Ukraine Jews mark Purim amid tensions
A lot has been said in international media about supposed threat to Ukrainian Jewish community since country’s revolution, but local Jews say they have little to fear and much to celebrate.
Music and dancing marked the annual celebration, which brings families and friends together for one of the most colorful celebrations in the Jewish calendar.
Video courtesy of jn1.tv
A lot has been said in the international media about the supposed threat to Jews in Ukraine since the country’s revolution, but Jews here they have little to fear and much to celebrate.
"Today Jews throughout the world, especially in Kiev, are having a big celebration," says Vadim Rabinovich, co-chair of the European Jewish Parliament. "We have many, many people. It’s a great celebration, the holiday of Purim.
"In the morning, there were a lot of children. It was a grand celebration. Today there are at least 1,000 people. We live in a nice country now. It’s very peaceful. Of course it’s a little unusual these days, but there are no fewer people at this Purim celebration than there were last year."
Jews performed the traditional reading of the story of Esther from a megillah scroll, followed by a night of singing and partying.
Fight for freedom
Attendees said that even though Russia’s incursion into Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula has raised the threat of armed conflict, they are standing by Ukrainians in the struggle for freedom.
"Even if we have war in some regions of Ukraine, we still celebrate because we believe that we fight for freedom," says Julia, a Kiev resident. "Purim is a very nice holiday, and the main idea is that people fight for freedom and they fight all together. So today we still celebrate and we still believe that some good events will happen in Ukraine."
Jewish leaders say this year’s Purim is an opportunity to make a prayer for peace across the world, and especially in Eastern Europe.
"Purim is a special holiday because it is a holiday of miracles," says Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman. "Today for Purim we have a referendum in Crimea. But we are Jewish people, and we pray that all things will be without blood and with Shalom – with peace."
One of the most well-known Purim traditions is to dress up in costume. Some are takes on characters from the biblical stories, while others are simply a bit of imagination. Whatever the look, the mood was festive and Jews were hopeful for unity and a brighter future.
"We must believe in a better future," say Kiev residents Alina and Igor. "In such a great holiday, such a great Jewish holiday, we must believe that everything in Ukraine and our community will be great. We must believe that Crimea will be ours, and that we will have good and strong relations with Russia despite these international conflicts."
As Jews here in Ukraine and across the world mark Purim with feasts and colorful celebrations, this year they are also saying a prayer for peace.
