The Entire Community is Invited to the MJCCA's PurimPALOOZA on February 24

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) is pleased to welcome the entire community to a festive Purim celebration for families - PurimPALOOZA - on February 24, 2013, from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. The event will be held at the MJCCA (5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody). It is free of charge and open to everyone.   For information, contact Rabbi Brian Glusman at 678.812.4161, brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org.

PurimPALOOZA Highlights Include:

10:00 am: Crafts and activities for children, followed by a Purim costume parade which will take place on the MJCCA's Main Street, featuring visits from special mascots and characters.

11:00 am–12:00 noon: All are invited to the MJCCA's Morris & Rae Frank Theatre for Purim songs with Rabbi Glusman, and a spectacular magic show featuring "Howie the Great." 

The Purim Superhero Book Launch

As part of PurimPALOOZA, the MJCCA will present the book launch of The Purim Superhero by Elizabeth Kushner, the first LGBT-inclusive, Jewish children's book written in English. The program is sponsored by The Rainbow Center, the Anti-Defamation League, and Keshet. Activities and storytelling will be in the Fine Family Gallery. Experts will be available to guide parents on how to talk to their children about the content of the book.

About the Book

In The Purim Superhero, Nate loves everything about aliens. So when it comes time to choose a costume for Purim, Nate naturally knew what he was going to be, that is until his friends at Hebrew school told him that all the boys would be dressing up as superheroes. Worried about being different from his classmates, Nate seeks advice from his two dads, who suggest that being different can sometimes be a good thing, and -- rather than using as an example their own family as perhaps the reader would expect -- point Nate to the lesson of Purim which celebrates Queen Esther, a girl with the courage to speak up for who she really was–a Jewish girl–and ends up saving her people. Young readers may be surprised what Nate learns from this lesson and what costume he finally chooses.

About Purim 

Purim, a holiday that comes in early spring, recalls how brave Queen Esther saved the Jewish people of Persia from wicked Haman's evil plot to destroy them.  The story is recounted in the Biblical book of Esther.  Families celebrate by wearing costumes, eating three-cornered cookies called hamentaschen, listening to the reading of the Megillah (a scroll containing the story) and making noise with groggers (noisemakers), blotting out the name of the villain Haman. 

PurimPALOOZA is sponsored by MJCCA Preschools, Shalom Baby, and Camp Sunday. Events are free and open to the community. 

About the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), The Center of the Community, is committed to strengthening the quality of life in Atlanta and is recognized as one of the most highly-regarded community centers nationally. From preschoolers and adolescents to young adults and seniors, the MJCCA offers unique and engaging programs, events, and services for every member of the community. 

For more information, please contact Rabbi Brian Glusman at 678.812.4161, brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org.

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