Purim celebration at Palm Beach synagogue brings joy amid Middle East conflict
By Ari Hait
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PALM BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — Hundreds of people celebrated the Purim holiday at Palm Beach Synagogue Monday night.
The rabbi there said not only did the Iran war not dampen the celebration, but it actually achieved the exact opposite.
The Purim holiday began with the reading of the Megillah, recounting the story of how the Jewish people survived a ruler in ancient Persia who sought their destruction.
The congregation engaged in the tradition of spinning noisemakers and booing whenever the ruler’s name was mentioned, a story that dates back more than 2,300 years.
Rabbi Moshe Scheiner of Palm Beach Synagogue said he believes history is repeating itself, as once again a ruler in Persia (now Iran) who sought the destruction of the Jews has been defeated.
“The Jewish people are saved, and the lesson of the Purim story is that God watches over us and ultimately, goodness and righteousness prevails over evil,” Scheiner said.
After the reading, the party moved to a courtyard outside, where there was food, drinks, and music, along with a comedian who flew in from Israel for the holiday.
And most people were talking about the parallels in history.
“The Megillah tells the story of us being saved in ancient Persia, and it’s being played out now in real life, what’s going on in the Middle East,” said Max Rayden, a congregant. “It’s amazing to see that duality.”
“This year, for the first time, it’s in real time,” said Lisa Schreier, another congregant. “And we’re seeing it unfold before our very eyes. This is absolutely historic.”
For Schreier, the celebration holds even more significance as her son recently moved from Palm Beach to Israel.
Despite her concerns about the ongoing conflict, she believes he is where he should be.
“When you’re there, you feel part of something. You feel like you’re living a life with purpose. And I think that’s how he feels,” Schreier said.
The people at Palm Beach Synagogue remain aware of the war going on and say they pray every day that it ends as quickly as possible.
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