
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990                   TAG: 9003091876
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-5   EDITION: NORTH 
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE CONGREGATIONS TO OBSERVE PURIM FEST

Purim, one of several liberation festivals in the Jewish year, will be observed this weekend at Roanoke's two congregations.

A family party, featuring the Blue Grass Jewgrass Band, will mark the holiday at Temple Emanuel on Persinger Road Southwest. Youth will lead the traditional readings on which Purim is based at the temple's 7:30 p.m. service.

A costume dinner will take place Saturday starting at 6 at Beth Israel Synagogue in Old Southwest.

Purim or the Feast of Esther occurs each March. It is a festive time to celebrate the deliverance of the ancient Jews from a tyrant Haman. The heroism of Esther, a clever and beautiful Jewish woman, is told in the biblical book bearing her name.

A three-cornered pastry is prepared for Purim parties and children rattle a noise-maker, known as a grager, to drown out the name of Haman when the story is read.

by CNB