Italian-Style Purim Celebration in AV

With a little dancing, a little lasagna, a little history and a lot of family and friends, Jewish locals celebrated Purim in Aliso Viejo Wednesday night.

Sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Aliso Viejo, the “Purim in Italy” event drew between 50 to 75 people to the Glenwood Recreation Center.

Murray Lavenstein of Aliso Viejo, who attended with his family, said he loves the holiday.

“When Purim is celebrate (in Israel), it’s Halloween, New Year’s and Fourth of July, all rolled into one,” said Lavenstein, who previously lived in Israel for three years.

“It’s quite a party,” he said.

Purim, which takes place on the 14th day of the Jewish month Adar, celebrates the rescue of the people from their enemies around 400 B.C., as detailed in the book of Esther—a part of the Jewish scriptures.

According to the book, Esther, a beautiful woman and her uncle Mordecai manage to protect the people from the schemes of the evil Haman, a man who tries to trick the king of Persia into killing them.

At the event in Aliso Viejo, many revelers wore costumes and used party horns to celebrate.

With the theme of "Purim in Italy," a number of Italian-style decorations filled the room, including red, white and green items (the colors of the Italian flag), packages of pasta noodles and cans of tomato sauce. 

In addition to lasagna and fettuccine alfredo, the event like many Purim celebrations, included a retelling of the story of Esther.

When Haman’s name was mentioned attendees booed, gave thumbs down, blew horns and spun noisemakers.

Before telling the story, Rabbi Tzali Stillerman, of the Chabad Jewish Center of Aliso Viejo, said a number of people got lost on the way because of problems with the online directions, joking that it’s “all part of the Purim spirit.”

“Things get topsy-turvy,” Stillerman said.  

In an address to gathered friends and family, Stillerman said that Purim is a time for celebration, but there are still people like Haman around who hate the Jewish people.

However, just like in the times of Esther, people have a powerful ally, Stillerman said.

“We know that we had God with us then and we have God with us now,” he said.

Elijah Winograd, 6, who dressed like the video game character Link at the event, said that his favorite part of Purim is Hamentashen—pastries shaped like triangles, the traditional shape of the hat that Haman wore.  

Other activities at the event included impromptu dancing, decorating facemasks and an artist making caricatures.

Check out some of the photos from Purim in Italy in Aliso Viejo by clicking the image at the top right of this article.

For more information on the Chabad Jewish Center of Aliso Viejo, visit JewishAlisoViejo.com.