New Britain herald., 1929-03-25
JEWISH CHILDREN
 CELEBRATE PURIM
1M Take Part in Costume Party
 at Synagogue

purlm which aCtuaIiN ldILs oA 'iS 1.th day Of Adar in the Jewish calendar, which is tomorrow, 1o" children of the Jewish synagogue school at Chestnut and Elm streets yesterday held d costume party un- der the direction Of Miss Jennle Cohen, principal.
 The affair was held in the base ment of the synagogue. The children were in costumes representing all phases ot the traditional story ot the rescue Of the Jews from perse- cutlons under an ancient king, when Queen Esther interceded in their be- half. Costumes ranged all the way from Father Ahra aham to Moses, tho latter being prize winner.
 Haman. the wicked prince, who was hanged on the gallo0s he had built for Mordecai the uncle of the Jewish queen, again was hanged Tn effigy from a ceiling joist Tn the school. His demise was celebrated with Joyousness and gaycty.
 Three prizes were awarded. The first prize was for the most original costume and went to Milton Birn- baum, son of MT. and Mrs. Nathan Birnbaum, who represented Moses.
 Judges were unable to decide be- tween Florence BuckWalter and Harold L1fshrz for first pItze in poster dranIng. so declared 1t a tie and awarded prizes 10 both. Prizes were books.
 The program was as follows;
 Purm prologue. Harold Llfshitz.
 Song, "Hetnt Iz Purlm' by the school.
 EecItaIon, The shalack Monos 7ragor" Robert Sandals.
 Song. A Wicked Man" by the school
 Recitation. 'seymours Masquer- ado," by Seymour Shane.
 Aong, flag Purim." by the school Neadlng Of original play by lnez BaroWsky.
 Piano solo, Myron Birnbaum.
 "A Purlm story Rose Horuitz.
 Song, Good Purim" by the school
 L4 o4ild-AA H+uIU-ps ue, IO!d LIt- shtz.
 Song, Tn sushan Long Ago" by
 the school
 Sunday school song.
 Edward RothsteIn was song leal- CT and Edgar Lyons was chairman Of the program. Posters were indicative Of the PurIm story.
 Refreshments were served by th,. Slsterhood of the church. The con- mlttee in charge Of decorations ln- cluded Gloria Berson, Rose Horwjtz Lea bella salinshy, Gerald $. Berson. Florence Buckwalter, Edward NJ Rothstein and Milton Birnbaum.
 The feast of the Purim had it's in- ceptlon in ancient days and Was dlIn directly 10 one of the first move ments for woman suffrage recorded in the Bible,
 It was in the days when Ahasucrus ruled over India, Persia, Media and lh fact extended his reign into l.7 provinces, even 10 Ethiopia.
 He gave feast which lasted for siA months 10 a select group of nobles and princes. and at the end ot The SIX months prolonged the party by inviting everyone who Was in the palace of Shushan to join him in d celebration which lasted seven days longer.
 The guests were given drink in vessels Of gold and roya! wine in abundance, according 10 the bounty of the king"
 When the king and his guests were drunk enough, the royal host sent for his wife, Queen Nashti. He ordered her to appear before tha men so clad that all could enjoy her regal beauty.
 The queen promptly ordered away the royal messengers. Nashti was dismissed and courlers sent out 10 select q new queen.
 In the country at the time were many Jews. The Jewish race has always been noted for it's beautiful women, so the messengers in their search for 10 virgins from whom the king could select his new queen came to a place there were many Jewish captives who had been car ried off from Jerusalem when Nebuchsdnezzar, king of Babylon had destroyed the temple. Among the Jewish people vas Mordecai, ] man of executive ability and an in. dependent thinker. He had niece named Esther.
 Mordecai called attention Of tn. messengers 70 the beauty of his niece. The messengers declared then search was ended. Esther Was taken before the king, found favor jn his eyes, and was promptly placed upon the throne.
 Now Mordecai. who had raised Esther as his oHn daughter, fol. lowed his nlece 10 the palace gates and was sitting in the gates, whcr he overheard q plot 10 assassinat' the king and blow up the palace He told Esther, who told the king and the plotters were hanged.
 About the same time Haman, ar ambitious politician, Has made com mander of the kings army. H. ordered everybody on the streets tc salute him. Mordecai claimed to b a free born citizen and saluted no body. Haman ordered him hangr' and built gsllows especlail' designed for the job.
 But the king. not knowing 0 Haman's plans, became curious t' see how Mordecai was rewarded fo exposing inc plot of the anarchists He found that no reward had beei offered but that Haman had beei killing off the Jews by the hundred and was planning to hang tn dueens uncle.
 Because Of his great love fo Est her. the king would not stant for the execution. so he made Nor