Festivals Will Mark Holiday of Purim
The victory of good over evil will be celebrated with festivals during the Jewish holiday of Purim, which will be marked at several Valley synagogues and centers beginning Sunday.
Purim festivals will feature music, games and food as well as Megillah readings, or stories from the Scroll of Esther. The celebrations honor the young Jewish girl’s bravery for becoming queen of Persia and “using her influence to save the persecuted Jewish community,” said Rabbi Elijah J. Schochet of Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills.
Many of the festivals, which are also fund-raisers for local charities, begin at approximately 11 a.m.
Events are planned Sunday at the following locations:
* Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Information: (818) 766-9426.
* The North Valley Jewish Community Center, 16601 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills. Information: (818) 360-2211.
On Friday, Temple Beth Torah, 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills, will hold a reading from the Book of Esther at 7:30 p.m. Information: (818) 831-0835.
On March 23, events are planned at the following locations:
* Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670.
* Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 346-0811.
* Temple Judea 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Information: (818) 758-3800.
* Temple Beth Haverim will celebrate at the Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, Agoura Hills. Information: (818) 991-7111.
* Temple Ramat Zion of Northridge, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. Information: (818) 360-1881.
* Valley Cities Jewish Community Center, 13164 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Information: (818) 786-6310.
* The West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. Information: (818) 587-3300.