Wonder Woman Gal Gadot and Golden State Warriors forward Omri Casspi will put in an appearance at the city of Holon’s 26th annual Adloyada Purim Parade on March 1 – not in the flesh, but among the many professionally crafted floats, puppets and giant exhibits highlighting the parade.
“Adloyada” refers to the Talmudic adage that on Purim Jews should drink until they cannot tell the difference (ad lo yada) between the holiday’s main characters, the evil Haman who plotted to kill the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire, and the heroic Mordechai, who helps foil the plot.
Taken less literally, adloyada means feasting with friends, wearing costumes and letting loose.
Stepping off at noon, the Holon Adloyada is the biggest and best-known of Israel’s Purim parades taking place across the country, some on Purim itself (March 1 this year) and others on March 2, when Jerusalem celebrates Purim.
All the Holon Adloyada creations will be displayed after the parade through Sunday, March 4, at the Holon Mediatheque.
Also in Holon, a southern suburb of Tel Aviv, the Israel Children’s Museum will offer Purim street shows along with its regular tours and exhibits from February 28 through March 2.
Down south in Beersheva, a Purim party in the Old City area will feature a costume contest, live music, arts and crafts.
Now let’s take a look at some of the Purim events in Israel’s two largest cities.
PURIM IN JERUSALEM
On March 2 (“Shushan Purim”), Jerusalem will host a free street party for children and youth at Safra Square, the municipal government complex, 11am to 3pm.
There will be a costume contest, street artists, giant puppets, workshops, clowns and exhibits. More than 5,000 preschoolers to teens are expected to attend. In case of rain, the party will be moved indoors to the Cinema City complex.
Smaller parades and street parties will be staged throughout Jerusalem’s many neighborhoods.
On March 2, The First Station will host a Paleo Market promising “lots of meat, alcohol and excellent Israeli cuisine” for the Purim feast, plus other Purim surprises.
Bloomfield Science Museum offers Purim workshops and exhibits from February 23 through March 3: mask-making, the science of magic, “confusing the brain” and a 3D movie, among other special events.
The Israel Museum gives free admission to kids on March 1-2. On March 1, performances (in Hebrew) of “Peter and the Wolf” with the Israel Stage Orchestra begin at 11am and 1pm March 1 (₪15); children ages 3-9 can make cat and dog masks, as well as “an everlasting mishloach manot” (Purim food baskets) from 10-3 (₪15). On March 2, kids ages 3-9 will have an Animal Carnival recycling workshop from 10-1 ₪15), and Shlomit the Storyteller will tell Purim stories (in Hebrew) at 11 for ages 4-8.
PURIM IN TEL AVIV-JAFFA
A Purim street party is planned for Friday, March 2 from 11am to 5pm in Kikar Hamedina in the north of the city. Come in costume to dance to electronic music and live performances by Muki and Subliminal. Ecologically friendly or recycled products and urban design will be on sale in the square.
The free Jaffa Purim Carnival takes place March 1, 3-7pm at Davidoff Park on Ed Koch Street, featuring live entertainment, a mini amusement park, fair stands and games, balloon-making, and circus and juggling workshops.
Purim at Hatachana (First Station), Tel Aviv’s Old Railway Station on David Remez Street is set for March 1 and March 3. Family-friendly entertainment beginning at 10:30am will include games, art activities and workshops for all ages, an interactive magic show and a performance by the Neve Tzedek Community Center hip-hop band.
A free 1970s-style family disco party will be held in Givon Square on March 3 at noon.
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is hosting self-portrait, landscape-painting and mask-making workshops for ages 7-12, February 28 from 10am to 1pm.
For details on many more Tel Aviv events click here.
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