FEBRUARY 25 • 2021 | 45
Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
P
urim begins tonight, Thursday,
Feb. 25, the 14th day of Adar.
This is the really fun holiday that
celebrates the survival of the Jews after
Queen Esther and Mordechai thwart-
ed a plot by Haman, the royal vizier to
the Persian King, to kill all the Jews in
ancient Persia in the 4th century BCE.
In short, Purim commemorates survival
for Jews and a victory over
prejudice and antisemitism.
Celebrating Purim
includes costumes, read-
ings of the Megillah, boo-
ing and hissing at Haman’s
name and, of course, after
fasting, munching some
hamantashen and, perhaps,
some kreplach. It also
mandates acts of charity. It is a joyous
holiday.
The William Davidson Digital Archive
of Jewish Detroit History offers proof
of Purim’s rank as a holiday with 7,464
mentions. Every year, from 1916 to pres-
ent, the Chronicle and the JN have carried
stories and announcements for Purim
celebrations. Most of the reading is a lot
of fun.
Not all the Purim reports are joyful. In
the first mention of Purim in the March
17, 1916, issue of the Jewish Chronicle, the
editorial “Purim 5675,” notes a paradox:
the suffering of many Jews during WWI
while American Jews enjoyed “a period
of unprecedented prosperity and prog-
ress.”
During World War II, in the March
19, 1943, issue of the JN, read “The
Inner Meaning of Purim” by Abraham
Burstein, or the more sobering “Our Last
Purim” by Judge Louis Levinthal, presi-
dent of the Zionists of America, speak-
ing about 10 years of Hitler in power in
Germany as a contemporary Haman.
But, most of the Purim readings match
the holiday’s spirit. On Feb., 27, 1953,
the JN published the music and lyrics
for “Purim Time is Fun.” Or see the Feb.
24, 1956, issue that lists all the Purim
celebrations across Detroit, from Temple
Israel to Young Israel.
Over the years, the JN has also pub-
lished what can be considered “Purim
primers.” For example, see Elizabeth
Applebaum’s “Happy Purim” summary
of the holiday in the March 9, 2006, JN,
or her “Happy Days are Here Again”
(Feb. 26, 1999). There are also more
practical articles such as “Making a
Purim Costume Safe” (March 2, 1990).
Purim celebrations have changed with
the impact of modern societal influences
such as radio and television, or wars and
economic strife and, most recently, the
digital world. For example, see “Purim
on the Internet” in the March 2, 2001,
issue of the JN. This was a very prescient
article.
The real fun reading begins when,
after the 1980s, the JN began to print
more photos as well as add more color
to its pages. “Hooray for
Purim” features photos
of the children from
Akiva Hebrew Day School
(March 3, 1994) or see
Noa and Eitan Pergament
in their Purim costumes
(Feb. 25, 2010). There are
also great photos from cel-
ebrations at Beth Shalom
(March 31, 2005), Shaarey
Zedek (March 24, 2003)
and Chabad’s Richardson
Center (March 28, 2003).
Perhaps the most colorful of
all was Shaarey Zedek’s “Purim
Extravaganza” announcement
two years ago (Feb. 22, 2018).
I think we all could use a bit of fun
after a rough 2020. Happy Purim!
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN
Foundation archives, available for free
at www.djnfoundation.org.
Happy Purim!
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
more photos as well as add more color
Akiva Hebrew Day School
Noa and Eitan Pergament
(Feb. 25, 2010). There are
also great photos from cel-
(March 31, 2005), Shaarey
Perhaps the most colorful of
all was Shaarey Zedek’s “Purim
Extravaganza” announcement
two years ago (Feb. 22, 2018).