Today, the 14th day of Adar, is Purim-- the festive Jewish holiday that celebrates the Jews of Persia being saved from extermination by Haman, advisor to the king. As recorded in the Book of Esther, Haman plotted to annihilate all the Jews in Persia on the 13th of Adar, but the Jews valiantly defended themselves. Their triumph is celebrated each year on the day following their victory.
On the ground in secular Tel Aviv, Purim weekend transformed the streets into an American Halloween-like ordeal. Friday, I spent the afternoon at the wandering Sheinkin and the biweekly arts fair on Nachalat Binyamin with friends. The weather was gorgeous and the streets were packed with artists selling their crafts, street performers, and many, many costumed people, infant to adult. It felt like half of Tel Aviv was congregated within a mile radius of these trendy neighborhoods. Costumes ranged from effortless (animal-ear headbands and flamboyant wigs), to adorable (infant bumblebee), to standard (lots of drag), to daring (giant walking nipple). Fairies seemed to be the most popular choice for both males and females-- glittery wings were sprouting off the backs of at least every 10th passer-by.
My favorite costume, however, was one printed in today's Haaretz. I can't seem to find the photo online, but the caption reads: "EYES WIDE SHUT: A Purim-goer, right, dressed up as Defense Minister Amir Peretz, taking part in the holiday festivities in Kiryat Shmona yesterday." Hillarious.
Last night, my friend and I dressed up in semi-matching flimsy white biotech suits. Mine was a full-body suit complete with attached hairnet-esque hood, while he wore a tamer white lab coat with matching hairnet. Hood in place, I looked much like a cloth sperm. We were meant to be biohazard scientists, but we couldn't get our shit together in time to print off the biohazard signs that would make the connection for other people. Nevertheless, we got lots of positive comments. A guard on Allenby told us we looked really "Tel Aviv-y"-- whatever that means. Met up with some friends, went to a few parties, including a massive street party in Florentine, some of the highlights including a fire waving/juggling man and a rabbi reading the Megillah in the middle of the inebriated crowd. To round out my Purim experience, I had my fair share of the triangular cookies-- hamantaschen or oznei Haman-- "Haman's pockets" in Yiddish/"Haman's ears" in Hebrew. All in all, a super fun holiday.
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