Adat Shalom
gets a head start
on celebrating Purim.

annon Dkkstein,
Mark and Julie Teicher
Abbe Sherbin and
Norma Dorman, all of
West Bloomfield

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

T

hree hundred Adat Shalom Synagogue mem-
bers and friends launched the Purim season
early at "Club Shushan" on March 5 at the
Farmington Hills synagogue.
Purim, which means "lots" in Hebrew, is a festi-
val detailed in the Book of Esther, which tells of the
undoing of royal adviser Haman's plot to annihilate
the ancient Persian Jews under King Ahasuerus.
Haman cast lots to determine the day of the extermi-
nation, but his plan was foiled by Queen Esther, aided
by her cousin Mordechai, who replaced Haman as the
king's adviser.
The festival, celebrated this year on Sunday, March
20, includes the mitzvah of hearing the reading of the
Book of Esther — and drowning out Haman's name
with the sound of groggers. Other mitzvot include
giving to the needy, sending mishloach manot (food
parcels) to friends, and eating a festive meal, com-
plete with alcoholic beverages.
During Purim, it is also customary for children to
wear costumes to the synagogue and to eat three-
cornered hamantashen reminiscent of Haman's hat.
At Adat Shalom, revelers in "jeans and jewel tones"
partied to the great sounds of Fifty Amp Fuse and
enjoyed a Persian buffet from A&J Kosher Catering.
The event was the 27th annual Adat Shalom
"Purim Party Plus" — a major "fun and fundraising"
synagogue program. The evening was co-chaired by
Shannon Dickstein, Norma Dorman, Mark Teicher
and Abbe Sherbin, all of West Bloomfield.
Each year, there is a raffle for great prizes, reminis-
cent of the "drawing of lots" in the Purim story.
Rabbi Aaron Bergman says that "Purim Party Plus"
is in keeping with the spirit of Purim, which reminds
us that "life is supposed to be happy — a message
that we need now, more than ever before."

Harriet Dunsky of Bloomfield Hills, Shelly Perlman and

Purim ...
With A Beat!

Check out the new
Purim song from
the Maccabeats,
an a cappella all-
male chorus from
Yeshiva University
in New York. Go to
bit.ly/dLP44G and
give a listen to
the boys around
the holiday table, all dressed up in their Purim
costumes, telling the story of Jewish victory in
song. For other performances by the chorus, go to
www.maccabeats.com .

Jason Wine and Julie Wolf of Huntington Woods wear

Persian costumes.

28 March 17 • 2011

Dancers enjoy the music of the band Fifty Amp Fuse.

Beverly and Randy Phillips, all of Farmington Hills, enjoy
an array of refreshments.