Program for Faith House Purim Event

Below is the program we used for our interfaith Purim gathering.  Feel free to read through it online at home or adapt it for your local community.   

Purim!  How Queen Esther Reversed History
February 24, 2010 

Led by Rabbi Justus Baird
Music by Barry Merer

Welcome & Introduction – Bowie (5 min)

Opening Purim Song "Chag Purim", Traditional Folk – Barry leads (3 min)

Hebrew chanting, selection from Esther – Justus (2 min)


Context for Esther, Purim, how it relates to the world today – Justus (7-10 min)
  This section included an interactive "movie trailer" for the Book of Esther, humor, questions to the group, some historical context, and items in the text to listen for...

Blessings before text in Hebrew and English – Justus (3 min)

(1) Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu al mikra megilah.

Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy through mitzvot and commands us to read the Scroll (of Esther).



(2) Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, sheh-asah nisim lavoteinu v'imoteinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh.



Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed wonders for our ancestors in those days at this season.



(3) Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, sheh-hechiyanu, v'kiyamanu, v'higianu laz'man hazeh.



Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who sustains us and enables us to reach this season.

Reading of Book of Esther, JPS English Translation – (40-45 min)


Chapter 1                  Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
Chapter 2                  Bara Levitt
Chapter 3; 4:1-11      Barry Merer
Chapter 4:12-5:8       Samir Selmanovic w/ ACTING by Ena & Leta Selmanovic
Chapter 5:9-14; 6      Patrick Paglen
Chapter 7                  John Khabir McGeehan

Chapter 8                  Mairim Pina
Chapter 9; 10 (edited)  Rabbi Justus Baird

Song “La Y’huim” – led by Barry
Text from Book of Esther 8:16, music composed my Noam Katz in 2005

Sharing in small groups – Bowie (5 min)


Full group discussion – Bowie & Justus (5 min)


Mischloah manot/matanot l'evyonim tradition & collection of uncut fresh fruit – Bara (5 min)


Closing words & Blessing – Justus (3 min)


Closing Song “A Wicked, Wicked Man”, Traditional English Folk Melody – led by Barry (4 min)

Pass out hamantaschen!

Acknowledgments, Donations Basket & Announcements – Bowie & Bara (5 min)