Greater Portland Purim Parties 2020
Chag Purim Sameach! Time to make masks, dress up, grog your groggers and eat delicious Hamentaschen 🙂 But where? When? How?! Here are 13 great ways to celebrate Purim in Southern Maine this year (2020/5780).
Hamantaschen Baking
w/ Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor of Beth Israel in Bath
Bowdoin Multicultural Center
30 College Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
Saturday, February 29, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
4:00 pm Hamantaschen Baking and making mishloach manot gift bags
5:30 pm. Havdalah and dinner
Celebrate Purim with PJ Library
Presented in partnership w/ the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
142 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101
Sunday, March 1, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Free with admission and PJ Library Members get 50% discount on admission
Whether this is your 100th Purim celebration or your first, join with Andrea Krasker Gavin from PJ Library and the Jewish Community Alliance to explore this Jewish holiday about a triumphant and brave queen named Esther. Come listen to a story, make a mask, march in a Purim parade, and learn about other ways our community is celebrating.
Kids Hamantaschen Bake Off!
Chabad of Maine
11 Pomeroy Street, Portland, ME 04102
Sunday, March 1, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Test your best baking skills at this Purim version of Master Chef! For kids of all ages. + featuring the popular “Queen of Persia” Movie!
Purim Lunch and Learn
Temple Shalom
74 Bradman Street, Auburn, ME 04210
Wednesday, March 4, 12:00 PM
Lunch at 12:00—Learn from 12:30 to 1:30: Haman – The First Modern Anti-Semite. Please bring a lunch. Hamantashen baking to follow at 2:00 PM. For more information, please contact Melissa Johnson at m.r.johnson.7550@gmail.com
Purim Friday
Temple Shalom
74 Bradman Street, Auburn, ME 04210
Friday, March 6, 5:30 PM
For All Ages – Suggested donation: $5 per person, $10 per family.
Royal Crown Making with Artist Karen Brooks! Special Purim Song – Special Purim Dance. Interactive story of Purim told by Rebbetzin Lisa. Traditional readings from the Megillah Scroll by Rabbi Sruli. Plus Purim Perogies, Wine, and Home-Baked Hamantashen. Please bring canned or other non-perishable items to help feed the hungry (an important Purim Mitzvah!) There will also be a Mishloach Manot Swap.
Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 19th
March Shabbat & Purim Service
B’nai Portland
74 Lunt Road, Auburn, ME 04210
Friday, March 6, 6:30 PM
Story, Costume, and Hamantaschen contest!
The Magic Lamp Purim Carnival
Congregation Bet Ha’am
81 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME 04106
Sunday, March 8, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wear your best costume, be hungry for hamantaschen, and help us make magic! Our Aladdin-influenced Purim shpiel, The Magic Lamp, will delight children and adults. We’ll also read the Megillah and have a fun-filled carnival.
Kids Purim Party!
Temple Beth El
400 Deering Street, Portland, ME 04103
Monday, March 9, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Come on down to TBE for one of Judaism’s most fun holidays of the year – Purim! We’ll be telling the story of how Esther saved her people from the evil Hamann, singing songs, eating kid foods, painting faces – it’s going to be a blast! This event is completely free and open to all. Costumes strongly encouraged!
Raucous Reading and Purim Party!
Presented by Temple Beth El in partnership with Temple Shalom in Auburn and Etz Chaim Synagogue in Portland
Maine Craft Distilling
123 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04101
Monday, March 9, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
TBE is partnering up with Temple Shalom in Auburn and Etz Chaim in Portland to bring you the hottest party of the winter! We’ll kick off with music and some complimentary snacks at 6pm and begin the Megillah reading at 7pm. Costumes are strongly recommended! Food, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase all through the evening. A big thank you to the amazing folks at Maine Craft Distilling for opening up on a Monday for us to celebrate Purim!
Purim for Grown-Ups
Congregation Bet Ha’am
81 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME 04106
Monday, March 9, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Dust off your leg warmers and tease up your hair! Let’s party like it’s 5780! Costume contest: 80s-themed dress encouraged. Purim service and megillah reading. Snacks and themed libations will be served. Adults only, please! Sweet or savory hamantaschen bake-off challenge Bakers needed; contact Karen in the office to enter.
Purim in the Air Party with Chabad of Maine
Jewish Community Alliance
1342 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102
Tuesday, March 10, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Featuring: Megillah Reading in the First Class Lounge, Exciting Flight Entertainment with Bernie the Strolling Magician, Purim Crafts and Moon Bounce at Kidsport, Face Painting at Queen Esther’s Xpress Spa, and Delicious Sit Down Dinner Served Airplane Style. Come Dressed Up – “Air Theme” Optional! RSVP: www.chabadofmaine.com/purimintheair
Purim Israeli Style with Chabad of Midcoast Maine
Elks Lodge
179 Park Row, Brunswic, ME
Tuesday, March 10, 5:00 PM
Fun for all ages! Multimedia Megillah Reading. Enjoy Pita, Falafel, Shawarma, Hummus and other Israeli delicacies in Tel Aviv. Take your photo at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Squeeze Orange Juice in Jaffa.
Purim Megilla Reading
Beth Israel Congregation
862 Washington Street, Bath, ME 04530
Thursday, March 12, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
5:00-5:45 PM: Purim Megillah Reading. 5:45-6:30 PM: Pizza Dinner
And last but not least……
The JCA’s annual Hamentaschen Sale!
Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine
1342 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102
March 9 – 11, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
