Purim celebrations in Holon (Archive photo)
Photo: Ofer Amram
Purim in Tel Aviv (Archive photo)
Photo: Miri Chason
A country in disguise
So where are you going to be during Purim? Most Israelis will tell you it usually rains on Purim, so you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to put on a costume and walk the lively streets during a rare, sunny Purim. Ynetnews presents the whole megillah of Purim hot spots
Across the country, preparations for the traditional festivals have been underway for some time. Many city officials have planned special activities for children, street performances and costume parades, some led by none other than the local mayor on a white horse, as if he was Mordechai in person.
Holon – Bin-Laden in the square
Welcome to Israel’s number one Adloyada. In keeping with tradition, Holon city officials expect over 200,000 spectators for the grand parade, dedicated this year to childhood television and cinema heroes. The 14th Adloyada will present a modern-day Haman as Osama Bin Laden. Queen Esther will dress-up as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Mordechai will be U.S. President George Bush. By the way, the parade that will kick-off at Sokolov Street will also feature the Adloyada’s prime ministerial candidate. The parade will start at noon and will end in a big Purim bash at city square.
Tel Aviv – Guinness world record
The central event of Purim in Tel Aviv is, of course, the annual Adloyada that will be kick-off at 10 a.m. on Dizengoff Street. The streets between Dizengoff Square and Ben-Gurion Avenue will be closed for traffic, and eight stages will feature the famous teen idols. There will also be magic shows and bands playing in the street, and make-up stations will be everywhere for children who want to get their faces painted.
Tel Aviv city officials also promise to put together the world’s greatest gift food portions (Mishloah Manot), in cooperation with the Caterpillar Corporation, and have called upon residents to place their contributions in a truck that will park next to Dizengoff Square. At the end of the event, the Mishloah Manot will be distributed to the city’s needy.
At the Nahalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, circus, acrobatics and clown shows will be held in the morning. And for anyone who is interested, it is recommended to get to the Meyerhoff Center at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art for a whirlwind of mask and noise-maker workshops.
Jerusalem – Tracking down Ahashverosh
Purim celebrations in the nation’s capital will be held on Wednesday, since in Jerusalem the holiday is marked on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Adar. The Nations of the World Carnival will commence at 11 a.m. at the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, with dance, theater and orchestra performances in different styles from all over the world.
For anyone feeling competitive, it is recommended to get to the Israel Museum by 10:30 a.m. for the costume competition, this time themed on literature heroes. If you want to learn about Ahashverosh’s homeland, you can turn to the Bible Lands Museum, where a journey into ancient Persia will take place between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. If you will stay until evening time, you can listen in on a lecture by Professor Shalom Paul, entitled: "Queen Esther: the first feminist in history".
Haifa – Magical City
The plaza in front of the Carmel Center’s auditorium will host the "Hatzuf" festival that will last for five days. Starting tomorrow there will be shows open to the public, children’s plays, artists’ stands, make-up and mask-making stations, as well as magic and mime shows for children.
Headlined as "Let’s make some noise", the National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa will hold Purim events during the next two days. Museum officials promise to reveal the secret behind magic tricks, which usually result in simple scientific explanations. In short, if you want to know how to turn over a glass full of water without spilling it, or how to stab a balloon with a skewer without blowing it up – this is the place for you.
Netanya – Breakdancing competition
The traditional Adloyada in Netanya will start at 11 a.m. and will include students, dance companies and giant puppets. The theme of this year’s Adloyada is children from across the world, and will feature costumes of different peoples. On Wednesday, the sports center at the Chernichovsky high school will host Israel’s breakdancing competition.
Mount Hermon– Costumes in the snow
Officials at the Hermon ski resort expect a holiday packed with visitors. To make the long lines more pleasant, some of the site’s employees will put on costumes and make-up. A ten minute drive from there, Saar Waterfall will host a children’s festival that will include plays and gifts for the kids. Organizers promise to give away prizes to winners of the costume competition.
Eilat – At the park with Ninet
Eilat will kick-off the Purim Carnival at 11 a.m. starting at Palm Avenue. Teen idol Ninet Tayeb will play on center stage, and Brazilian carnival and Wild West-themed dances will be held at the main plaza. Anyone who will get tired can retire to a gigantic tent with carpets and mattresses that will be set up in the area.
