Atlanta Purim Calendar 2018

Purim begins on Wednesday night, Feb. 28, and ends Thursday night, March 1. The festival celebrates Esther’s defeat of the evil Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews in the Persian Empire.

We are not required to abstain from work on Purim but are commanded to observe four mitzvot: Hear the reading of the Megillat Esther (Book of Esther); give to the needy; send gifts of food (mishloach manot) to friends; and feast.

In addition to traditional readings of the megillah on Purim, the following are some ways to celebrate in the Atlanta area. (Send additional items for this calendar to editor@atljewishtimes.com.)

SUNDAY, FEB. 18

Hamantaschen bake-off. CTeenJR at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, gets baking at 6:15 p.m. Free; rabbihertz@chabadnf.org.

TUESDAY, FEB. 20

Holiday prep. Bena holds a pre-holiday program for women with speaker Esther Pransky at 8:15 p.m. at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills. Free; www.atlantakollel.org/event_detail.php?event=354 or 404-321-4085.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21

Lunch and learn. Rabbi Adam Starr leads an exploration of Megillat Esther at noon at Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road. Free (charge for lunch); order food at www.yith.org/lunchnlearn.

Hamantaschen baking. Women from novice to expert bakers are invited to join Shani Freedman for a session preparing sweet treats at 7 p.m. at 1113 University Drive, Morningside. RSVP by Feb. 18; www.anshisfard.org/ha-mmmm-entash-bake or 404-933-7823.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Hamantaschen party. The Sixth Point provides all the ingredients for adults to make their own triangular treats, plus a photo booth to test out their costumes, at 3 p.m. at the Levy home, 2884 Parkridge Drive, Brookhaven. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the door; thesixthpoint.org/event/make-hamentashen-party.

Young adult party. Marcus JCC Young Adults, the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, InterfaithFamily/Atlanta, Honeymoon Israel, Birthright Israel and the Jewish Fertility Foundation co-sponsor a costume party at 8 p.m. at Orpheus Brewing, 1440 Dutch Valley Place, Midtown. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; www.atlantajcc.org/pldb-live/rock-out-purim-2018-38420 or 678-812-3861.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

Purim PaloozAA. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., holds a carnival from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a megillah reading in between, including games, live music, a dessert buffet and food trucks at lunchtime. Admission is $10 per person or $18 per family; form.jotform.com/60544925801960.

Purim Palooza. Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs, holds a family megillah reading at 9:30 a.m., followed by a carnival. Game wristbands are $15 for ages 2 to 5 and $20 for 6 and up through Feb. 21, then $5 more; www.templesinaiatlanta.org.

Parade and carnival. The annual community parade leaves from the Toco Hill Shopping Center near Pike Nurseries at 11 a.m. and ends at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, where a carnival starts at noon. Parade participation is free; bethjacobatlanta.org/Purim.

Carnival. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, holds a carnival at 11:30 a.m. Admission, including lunch, is $12 until Feb. 20 or $15 at the door; www.bethshalom.net/event/purim-carnival1.html.

Hamantaschen bake-off. Chabad of Peachtree City holds an event for women and girls at the Lew home, 219 Kelvington Way, Peachtree City, at 7 p.m. Free (donations appreciated); RSVP to www.chabadsouthside.com, shternie@chabadsouthside.com or 678-595-9277.

MONDAY, FEB. 26

Exploring Esther. MACoM, 700-A Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, hosts Rabbi Elisheva Brenner for a discussion of the historical, mythical and theatrical Esther, including a musical Purim spiel, at 7:30 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested; atlantamikvah.org; 404-549-9679.

TUESDAY, FEB. 27

Intown family party. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel, Jewish Kids Groups, PJ Library and the Marcus JCC hold a pre-Purim celebration at 5:15 p.m. at Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., Morningside. Free; www.anshisfard.org/pre-purim-celebration or 404-951-1026.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

Celebration. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, provides a dairy dinner at 5:30 p.m., a children’s megillah reading and costume parade at 6:15, and a spiel and full megillah reading at 7. Free; www.bethshalom.net or 770-399-5300.

“American Ninja Warrior” party. Chabad Intown, 928 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland, provides a buffet dinner, ninja warrior parkour activities and a stunt show in addition to a megillah reading at 5:45 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $10 for children; chabadintown.org/ninja-warrior.

D’oh. Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., Morningside, hosts Rabbi Avraham Horvitz as he reads the megillah using the voices of “Simpsons” characters while a “Simpsons” slide show of the Purim story is shown at 6:50 p.m., to be followed by food and music. Free; www.anshisfard.org/simpsons-megillah-reading or 404-951-1026.

Ice cream party. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, TOco Hills, holds an ice cream party for kids after the 6:55 p.m. megillah reading. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim or 404-633-0551.

Young professionals’ party. YJP Atlanta holds a ’90s-themed party with an open bar at 7:30 p.m. at its new property, 730 Ponce de Leon Place, Poncey-Highland. Tickets are $10 (early bird) or $15; www.eventbrite.com/e/90s-purim-party-tickets-42759339335.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

Mishloach manot. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, works with One Good Deed to distribute food baskets to the elderly at 10:30 a.m. Free; www.yith.org.

Pancakes. Congregation Beth Jacob Rabbi Ilan and Miriam Feldman are serving pancakes with Purim festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their home, 1582 Beechcliff Drive, Toco Hills. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim or 404-633-0551.

Children’s megillah. Rabbi Dov Foxbrunner leads a celebration for preschoolers at noon at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim or 404-633-0551.

African celebration. Chabad of Peachtree City, 632 Dogwood Trail, Tyrone, holds an African-themed Purim party with a megillah reading, juice bar, African buffet, drum circle and crafts at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children older than 6 until Feb. 22, then $5 more per person; RSVP at www.chabadsouthside.com.

Festive meal. Anshi Rabbi Mayer Freedman and his family hold a Purim feast from 4 p.m. until about 6:30 at 1113 University Drive, Morningside. Free; mayerfreedman@atlantakollel.org.

Festive meal. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, hold s seudah at 5 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $17 for ages 3 to 12 for members and $30 and $20 for others; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim-seudah.

Dance-off. Meir Kay joins Congregation Beth Tefillah, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs, for a dance party at 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children 3 to 11 through Feb. 24, then $25 and $18; www.bethtefillah.org/form/purim-dance-off-2018.html.

Masquerade and party. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, holds a celebration with crafts and a megillah reading. Free (nominal charge for pizza); www.chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000.

Pancake party. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds a pancake pajama party with a pancake bar and other food, PJ Library fun, juggler Todd Key, and adult trivia at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults and $10 for kids for YITH members, $25 and $12 for nonmembers (children under 2 free); www.yith.org or 404-315-1417.

Feast and comedy show. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, celebrates Purim with adults at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $25; www.chabadnf.org/purimadult or 770-410-9000.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

Purim off Ponce. SOJOURN honors Judy Marx and Billy Planer at its fundraising costume ball at 7:30 p.m. at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown. Tickets are $100; www.sojourngsd.org/pop2018.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

Family celebration. The Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, holds a carnival, a costume parade and a concert at 10 a.m. Free; bit.ly/2EmetUd or 678-812-4161.

Cookie swap. The Marcus JCC invites families to dress in costumes and bring hamantaschen with creative flavors to Candler Park, 585 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, at 3 p.m. Free; atlantajcc.org.