Rabbi Raphael Leban shared a special talent with families celebrating the Jewish holiday Purim on Sunday at the Jewish Community Center in Denver.
Leban held the attention of the young children at the event by performing a puppet show depicting the Old Testament story of Queen Esther, who prevented her husband King Ahasuerus from killing all the Jewish people in Babylon.
“The holiday lends itself to theater,” Leban said. “One of our customs is to dress in costume.”
Two local Jewish outreach organizations, the Shalom Family and The Jewish Experience, sponsored the event so that families with young children could celebrate the holiday together.
“We made this age appropriate,” said Caron Blanke, director of the Shalom Family.
Children nibbled on holiday themed cookies and made baskets of food to give to friends and family.
Several parents said they appreciate the opportunity to bring their children to such events .
“We don’t belong to a synagogue yet and she’s too young to go to Sunday school, so this is a perfect way to intruduce our kids to the holiday,” said Julie Selsberg of Denver.
Carla Witt of Denver said she brought her daughter to the puppet show and other events sponsored by the Shalom Family so her daughter can have fun with other Jewish children.
“It’s a fabulous way to celebrate the Jewish holidays,” Witt said.
Staff writer Katherine Crowell can be reached at kcrowell@denverpost.com.
