Grab your groggers: Purim fun around the Valley

In preparation for Purim on March 24, "bakers" at Har Zion Congregation start making hundreds of hamantaschen. Pictured, from left, are Sisterhood volunteers Esther Kunin, Cecile Fried, Bea Buchbinder and Adele Gordon.

Photo courtesy of Har Zion Congregation

Purim - one of Judaism's most joyful holidays - is based on the Book of Esther, or Megillat Esther, which relates the victory of Mordechai and Esther over the wicked Haman, who tried to destroy the Jews in ancient Persia.

On the eve of Purim - which falls on Thursday, March 24 - Megillat Esther is read and noisemakers blot out the name of Haman each time his name is read. Other customs include a festive meal, dressing in costume, sending mishloah manot (gifts of sweets and fruit) and mattanot le-evyonim (giving money to the poor).

Following is a list of local Purim celebrations.

Friday, March 18

Purim celebration - 7:30 p.m., Temple Gan Elohim at Mission Bell United Methodist Church, 4645 W. Bell Road, Glendale. Rabbi Maynard Bell and musician Scott Leader lead festive Shabbat service and Purim celebration. Costumes are encouraged. 623-210-7435.

Purim service and dinner - 7 p.m. Beth Ami Temple, 3535 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. 602-956-0805.

Sunday, March 20

East Valley community Purim carnival - noon-3 p.m., East Valley Jewish Community Center, 1521 S. Indian Bend Road, Tempe. Co-hosted by Temple Emanuel, Temple Beth Sholom and the EVJCC. Carnival games, food, face painting, entertainment. Free admission. 480-897-0588 or www.evjcc.org.

Monday, March 21

Purim story and craft hour - 5 p.m., Barnes and Noble in Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. Chabad of North Phoenix. Leah, 480-563-4898.

Tuesday, March 22

'Esther: Savior of Jewish people' - 7:30 p.m., Chabad of Scottsdale, 10215 N. Scottsdale Road. Program for women about the feminine side of Purim.

Wednesday, March 23

Northwest Valley chapter of Women's American ORT - 12:30 p.m., Temple Beth Shalom, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Special entertainment directed by Rosemary Abrami. 623-584-8453.

Thursday, March 24

A musical Purim - 5 p.m. Purim for children ages 6 and younger at Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. At 5:30 p.m., a bring-your-own dairy picnic dinner followed by a Purim service and a "Lion King" Purimshpiel by elementary school students. The evening concludes with a Megillah reading and a Motown Purimshpiel. 602-971-1234.

Aish Hatorah Scottsdale - 7:05 p.m. evening service, 7:25 p.m. Megillah reading for family. 14435 N. Scottsdale Road, #100. 602-433-0300.

Beth El Mini Purim carnival - 6 p.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Game booths, snacks, crafts, hamantaschen. Megillah reading and Purimshpiel is 7 p.m. Costumes encouraged. 602-944-3359.

Cowboy Purim - 6:15 p.m. bring-your-own dairy dinner, 7 p.m. Megillah reading, 8 p.m. adult Purimshpiel. Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road. 480-838-1414.

Har Zion Congregation - 7 p.m. family Purim celebration and Megillah reading, 8:30 p.m. full Megillah reading. 6140 E. Thunderbird Road, Scottsdale. 480-991-0720.

Hawaiian Purim party - 7 p.m., Chabad of Scottsdale's annual around-the-world party. Megillah reading, Masquerade, music, Hawaiian buffet dinner. For singles and families. $18 adults, $10 children under age 12. 480-998-1410 or e-mail chabadofscottsdale@msn.com.

Hillel at ASU - 7 p.m., 1012 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. Megillah reading, refreshments. 480-967-7563.

Japanese Purim - 6:45 p.m. at a private ranch in Chandler. Chabad of the East Valley's eighth annual Purim-around-the-world party. Megillah reading, Purim feast with Japanese food. Sushi bar and demonstration. Slide show presentation by Chabad Hebrew School students and a magician. Children's program. Paid in advance: $18 adults, $12 children. At the door: $25 adults, $18 children. Reservations: 480-855-4333 or rabbi@chabadcenter.com.

The New Shul - 7 p.m. Megillah reading, followed by an adult shpiel and a children's shpiel. 14425 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-515-2272.

Off-off-off-off-off Broadway - 6 p.m., Temple Beth Sholom, 3400 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. Purimspiel: "The Megillah Goes to Woodstock," directed by Cass Foster. Pizza, salad. Cost: $6 adults, $4 children. Reservations: 480-940-8182 or Purim@FiveStarPublications.com. Proceeds go to the Mark Foster Youth Fund, which assists troubled youth.

Purim extravaganza and anniversary - Beth Emeth Congregation hosts the "Ganza Megillah" Purim extravaganza 7 p.m. at the synagogue, 13702 Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. The celebration includes a Megillah reading, a historic film, hamantaschen and recognizes the synagogue's 18th anniversary. Costumes optional. Call 623-584-7210 for tickets.

Purim in Peking - 7 p.m., Chabad of North Phoenix's Purim-around the-world party at Explorer Middle School, 22401 N. 40th St. Megillah reading, kosher buffet of "oriental delicacies." Entertainment, crafts for children. 480-563-4898 or mendyl@aol.com.

Purim in Persia - 8:30 p.m., Chabad at ASU, 1112 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 9 p.m. Megillah reading. Costumes. 480-736-TORA.

Sepharadic Purim party - 7:30 p.m., Shirat-David 5310 E. Shea Blvd., #5, Scottsdale. Sepharadic-style Megillah reading, costume contest, music, food, drink. Cost: $5 adults and children ages 12 and older.

West Valley celebration - 7 p.m., Chabad of the West Valley at Hampton Inn, Peoria. Multimedia Megillah reading, masquerade, Chinese buffet, Israeli dance troupe performance, live music and dancing. Free admission, charge for dinner. 602-375-2422.

Friday, March 25

Megillah reading - 8 a.m. Chabad of Scottsdale

Megillah reading - 8:15 a.m., Har Zion Congregation.

Megillah reading - 7:30 p.m., Temple Beth Emeth of Scottsdale, 7330 E. Earll Drive, #L. Followed by an oneg.

Sepharadic Megillah reading - 7 a.m., Shirat-David.

'The Megillah According to Broadway' - 7:30 p.m., Temple Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale.

Saturday, March 26

Adult Purim bash - 7-10 p.m. Live music by Chain of Fools, dancing, appetizers, costume contest. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Cost: $20 members, $25 nonmembers. Kim, 480-483-7121 or e-mail kimb@vosjcc.org.

Kids' Purim Extravaganza - 7-10 p.m. Activities for children ages 4-14. Carnival games, crafts, costume contest. Cost: $10 members, $12 nonmembers. Family savings pack: $50 per family for up to five people (maximum two adults). Kim, 480-483-7121 or e-mail kimb@vosjcc.org.

Sunday, March 27

Har Zion Purim carnival - noon-4 p.m. Games, food, hamantaschen by Har Zion Men's Club and Sisterhood.

Temple Beth Israel Purim carnival - 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dunk the rabbi and other games. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the URJ Disaster Relief Fund.

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