Beach Cities Jews Gear Up For “Jewish Halloween”

MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF. - With Purim approaching, Jews from across the Beach Cities and South Bay are assembling costumes, planning raucous parties, and putting together traditional gift baskets to celebrate the holiday known as the “Jewish Halloween,” which begins Wednesday, February 28.

At Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, members are busily putting together gift baskets, called “shelach manot” (translated as “sending of portions”), to send to one another in honor of the holiday. The shelach manot baskets include fun treats, such as “hamentaschen,” a traditional triangle-shaped, fruit-filled cookie served on Purim.

Congregation Tikvat Jacob plans to distribute more than 400 gift baskets to its members between now and the holiday.

Purim commemorates the ancient defeat of Haman’s plan to massacre the Jews when a Jewish woman, Esther, risked her own life to reveal his plot. On Purim, Jews dress up in costumes and are encouraged to drink wine and party, which has led to the comparison with Halloween.

But the holiday also holds a message particularly relevant for today, as the Purim story hinges on the brave actions of a woman speaking out against injustice.

“Queen Esther was the #MeToo movement of her time,” said Rabbi Joshua Kalev of Congregation Tikvat Jacob. “Just as she was able to gain our people freedom from Haman, so too do we hope the loud voices today bring about safety and equality for women around the world.”

For more information, go to www.ctjmb.org.