Purim parties relocated to bomb shelters as Israeli celebrants move into bomb shelters under Iran war threat

Tel Aviv, Israel — The Purim holiday is usually marked with loud street parades and costume parties to celebrate the victory of the Jews over an ancient Persian ruler. This year, the ceremonies moved to fortified bomb shelters. The country is currently engaged in a war against the modern leaders of Iran.

In Tel Aviv on Monday, people of all ages dressed in sequin suits, bunny ears, pirate costumes and peacock feathers flocked to the underground parking lot of a mall that also serves as a bomb shelter for the traditional reading. Purim story This was followed by a live band accompanied by dancing.

“It’s all about choosing happiness, choosing to be happy, no matter what’s going on,” said Tel Aviv resident Mariel Margulis. They dressed up like people bathing in bathing suits, dressed their son Amichai as a rubber ducky and created a bathtub play area for him next to their tent.

The story of Purim, told in the Book of Esther, follows Haman, an advisor to King Ahasuerus, as he plans to exterminate the kingdom’s Jews. Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai foil the plan. The story takes place in Shushan, Persia, which is modern-day Iran.

“What’s happening right now seems biblical in proportion, and we’re doing the little we can, staying calm, staying happy,” Mariel said. Nearby, while reading the Book of Esther, Amichai fell asleep after drowning out the name of the story’s villain, Haman, amid the loud “boos” of the crowd.

“It’s like the same plot of Purim with a different cast,” said Daniel Margulies, Mariel’s husband.

Purim, a favourite holiday of both religious and secular Jews, is celebrated across much of the Jewish world beginning Monday night. Holidays start a day later in the ancient walled cities, including Jerusalem.

In quieter times, families in colourful costumes gather in different parts of the city, and children eat traditional triangle cookies in abundance. It is customary to wear costumes and drink large amounts of alcohol.

In Jerusalem, musicians hold street parties on balconies and cobbled streets overlooking the main road until the evening.

Big parties were planned this year after a break of two years. was in many cities Canceled or reduced your Purim celebration For the last two years due to the Israel-Hamas war.

But the celebrations were once again marred by war when Israel and the US launched strikes against Iran on Saturday.

“We came because the kids didn’t want to miss Purim; they were really excited to dress up,” said Alyssa Rapoport, a Tel Aviv resident who works in investments. Her daughters dressed as Barbie Cowgirl and Rumi from K-pop Demon Hunters.

With most Purim celebrations cancelled, the family planned to walk to the Purim event within easy access to shelters. Iranian missiles have sent Israelis seeking shelter several times a day and night.

“It feels absolutely surreal,” Rapoport said while watching the ceremony, as hundreds of people gathered and danced under the fluorescent lights of the parking lot. Nearby, people and their dogs who had gone into shelter for the duration of the war were relaxing on air mattresses and scrolling on their phones.

“This is not the most favourable situation; we are used to our synagogue, but we are here with the entire nation of Israel,” said Gabby Grinshteyn, a 39-year-old environmental consultant. “These are important days, and the setting is less important.”