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<p>WILKES-BARRE - A Purim celebration at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday provided a chance for area residents to celebrate the holiday while having fun with family and friends.</p><p>The holiday, known as the Feast of Lots, commemorates the victory of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire, after a plot to eradicate them by the evil Haman, as detailed in the book of Esther.</p><p>Games, balloons, a photo booth, a bounce house and a costume parade provided a high-energy celebration, enjoyed by children and adults alike.</p><p>Rabbi Roger Lerner, of Temple B&#8217;nai B&#8217;rith in Kingston, said the holiday celebration was an opportunity for the Jewish community to celebrate its tenacity and continuity in the faces of challenges.</p><p>&#8220;Purim is a holiday during which we are commanded to be joyful,&#8221; he said. &#8220;In spite of anything else going on - today, we are filled with joy.&#8221;</p><p>The holiday will formally be observed this week from Wednesday night through Thursday. It is celebrated each year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, which usually falls in March or April.</p><p>Willow Troth, at just five months old, seemed to exude that joy, smiling from her stroller as she looked out on the colorful balloons, various games and dozens of excited children, many of them in costume.</p><p>Willow&#8217;s mother, Ashley Troth, Nanticoke, said she was attending her first Purim celebration, and really enjoying it.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great chance to get out with the kids, especially on a rainy day,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Sarah Nelken, Kingston, was also enjoying time with her children Leib, 4, and Ari, 3.</p><p>Ari, lollipop in hand, clung to his colorful candy bag as he made his way through the colorful event.</p><p>Both Leib and Ari, dressed in matching blue sweaters, said they enjoyed &#8220;the car&#8221; game, &#8220;the frog&#8221; game and basketball.</p><p>Sarah Nelken, who recently had a baby, said she enjoyed getting out and touching base with friends, especially in such a positive environment.</p><p>Those who came hungry were not disappointed with kosher pizza, hamantashen, drinks, and a variety of candy available.</p><p>The hamantashen, a jam-filled pastry, symbolizes miracles of God, often hidden just beneath the surface, according to one attendee.</p><p>Len Zimmerman, Chief Operating Officer, said the event highlighted the importance of fellowshipping with others and of caring for them.</p><p>&#8220;We assist people of all faiths,&#8221; he said of the community center. &#8220;From children to seniors.&#8221;</p><p>Lerner said the holiday and its celebration reinforced the concept of community.</p><p>&#8220;Community is really so important,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We might disagree on some things, but today, celebrating, we are united.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Five-year-old Neshama Charach, of Brooklyn, N.Y., takes her award as Moshe Majesky, 5, of Kingston, follows during a costume parade of the Purim carnival at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Five-year-old Neshama Charach, of Brooklyn, N.Y., takes her award as Moshe Majesky, 5, of Kingston, follows during a costume parade of the Purim carnival at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Five-year-old Autumn Harrison-Crop, of Nanticoke, right, walks with her &#8216;identical&#8217; cousin Adalee Crop, 4, of Hanover Township, before the Purim carnival costume parade at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Five-year-old Autumn Harrison-Crop, of Nanticoke, right, walks with her &#8216;identical&#8217; cousin Adalee Crop, 4, of Hanover Township, before the Purim carnival costume parade at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Levi Browd, 5, of Kingston, right, watches his sister Mushka, 3, play &#8216;Monkey Coconut Maddness&#8217; as game attendent Pat Dobrowolski assists during the Purim carnival at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Levi Browd, 5, of Kingston, right, watches his sister Mushka, 3, play &#8216;Monkey Coconut Maddness&#8217; as game attendent Pat Dobrowolski assists during the Purim carnival at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Four-year-old Leiba Cohen, of Kingston, runs across the Jewish Community Center stage with her cotton candy during the Purim carnival costume parade in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTLxxxx18Purim_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Four-year-old Leiba Cohen, of Kingston, runs across the Jewish Community Center stage with her cotton candy during the Purim carnival costume parade in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.  </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

JCC Purim event commemorates Jewish resilience