Purim celebration draws diverse crowd

"Well it's alright, it's okay, the Jewish folk are here to stay. We can eat any dish, matzoh balls, gefilte fish." Set to the tune of the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" and sung by students in a wacky assortment of clothing, the lyrics filled a packed Center for Jewish Life during the Purim celebration Saturday night.

This interpretive retelling of the story of Purim, organized by former CJL president Marc Grinberg '05 with selections from the "Disco Purim Songsheet," was just one part of the Purim Pre-game Party hosted by the CJL.

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the clutches of the evil Hamen by the virtuous Queen Esther. It is celebrated as a carnival with costumes, food, merriment and an emphasis on raising money for charity.

The night included performances by the Jewish a capella group Koleinu, which sang "Hinei bah hashalom," or "Here comes peace," and the Princeton Juggling Club.

Jews and non-Jews alike partook in the joyous occasion. "I love the CJL! The CJL is different from what I usually do," said Jen Grojean '05, who is not Jewish.

"We expose people who maybe don't know the customs — Jews, non-Jews," Reva Haselkorn '06 said.

Pooh bear, a cow, an angel, several Indian women and Elvis with a prominent glitzy "Hai" necklace promenaded around, listening and dancing to the grooves from the band HeadspacE, which features four Princeton students.

"People love to dance in the dining hall," said Haselkorn, who as CJL religious/educational/cultural chair was responsible for much of the planning behind the party.

"Purim is about revelry. It's about the goofy. It's about the longevity of the Jewish people through simcha — through happiness — as we read in the story of Purim. They establish that this story is to be forever," Haselkorn said.

Students agreed there is much to be said for a holiday imbued with the spirit of fun.

"Purim is one of my favorite holidays because the purpose of the holiday is to have fun. It is a holiday during which we can actually celebrate being Jewish and focus on enjoying ourselves as Jews. The CJL Purim party is one of the occasions on which all different types of Jews get together in one room to have fun," the cow, David Silver '04, said in an email.

"Students were almost exclusively involved in organizing it," CJL communications chair Nathaniel Fintz '06 said, mentioning that CJL program director Iris Brooks Lewin was also instrumental in planning the evening. "This is a success story of student collaboration."

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Students and community members alike enjoyed the festivities. "Students felt like it was a very happening event, even though it was open to community members and their little children," Haselkorn said.

When Jack and Toby Gold of Brooklyn came to Princeton for the weekend, they made inquiries as to where to spend the Purim holiday, which inevitably led them to the CJL. They were favorably impressed. "It's unbelievable, it's really funny. There's great spirit here," Gold said.

Haselkorn said she heard curious comments about the party beforehand. "People were saying, 'It's a CJL pre-game party? Are they going to take shots of Manischewitz?'"

But she said she got many compliments about the party and requests for similar events in the future. "It shows good things for the future of the CJL," she said.

The party did not stop Saturday night. Sunday afternoon found Murray-Dodge filled with the comforting smell of kosher sesame chicken. Students did impersonations of Ali G and Cornel West, while Rabbi Uri Cohen, CJL director of education, made an appearance as a rap star.

"It's the whole idea of Purim: food, funniness, some music. Except the whole no alcohol thing that I'm not used to. There's a very, very strong tradition of getting drunk, getting tipsy on Purim," Miriam Nussbaum '07 said.

However, Haselkorn said, "You don't always need alcohol to have a good time," adding, "Purim gave an opportunity for students to celebrate their talent and have fun with each other."