Purim Calendar

Purim Masquerade Ball
Congregation Or Ami will host a Purim Masquerade Ball from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at 708 Ridge Pike., Lafayette Hill. Cocktail attire with masks preferred. Dinner to be provided by Infinity Caterers and music by the Beat Street Station. RSVP to 610-828-9066.

Sushi & Song
Women and girls are invited to a pre-Purim celebration featuring the B'Notes A Cappella Group and an Asian buffet at 8:30 p.m., at Congregation Beth Hamedrosh, 200 Haverford Rd.,Wynnewood. RSVP to 610-353-5529.

SUNDAY, Feb. 26

Vashti's Banquet
Join the Sisterhoods of Congregation Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County, Congregation Beth El and Ohev Shalom of Bucks County for a Purim celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at 375 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley. The afternoon will feature massages, henna, belly dancing, Israeli dancing and Middle Eastern food. Dress for the occasion (if you so desire). Call 215-673-6430.

THURSDAY, March 1

Purim Healing Service
Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom will lead a Purim season healing service at 8 p.m., at Congregation Adath Jeshurun, 7763 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. Call 215-635-6611.

Making Connections
Join jkidphilly us for a Purim art project and help pack Purim care packages for the needy at 4 p.m., at the A.C. Moore, 1050 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. For more information, call 215-320-0354.

FRIDAY, March 2

Purim Celebration
Congregation Mishkan Shalom will host a "Celebrations: Sensory-Friendly Purim" program from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 4101 Freeland Ave., Philadelphia. The carnival will feature short lines and less noise, along with experiential activities. A family Shabbat dinner is set for 6:15 p.m., followed by child-friendly services at 7 p.m. The program is designed for Jewish families who have children with special needs. No fee. To register, email: gabrielle@mishkan.org.

SATURDAY, March 3

Purim Dance Party
The Gershman Y, along with Hillel's Jewish Graduate Student Network and Moishe House Philadelphia, will host a Purim dance party for 20- and 30-somethings at 10 p.m., at the World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia. The evening will feature dancing, costumed revelry, hamantashen and themed drink specials. Call 215-545-4400.

Purim Sermon
Rabbi Howard Addison of Melrose Israel Emanu-El will lead an extended 9:15 a.m. service focusing on the Purim holiday at 133 W. Cheltenham Ave., Cheltenham. Lunch will be served. Call 215-635-1505.

Purim Lunch & Learn
Congregations of Ner Zedek will host a Shabbat service and Purim lunch-and-learn session at 7520 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia. RSVP to 215-728-1155.

SUNDAY, March 4

Purim Carnivals
Celebrate Purim with a moon bounce, arts and crafts, face painting, karaoke, games, prizes and snacks at Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel from 10 a.m. to noon, at 300 S. 18th St., Philadelphia. Tickets for activities and food will be sold at the door. Call 215-735-5148.

Dress in your favorite Purim costume and join Congregation M'kor Shalom for a Purim carnival from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 850 Evesham Rd., Cherry Hill, N.J. Food will be available for purchase. The fourth annual Tot Purim Pre-show is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. RSVP to 856-424-4220.

Enjoy a candy factory, moon bounce, dunk the rabbi and more at a Purim carnival hosted by Congregation Beth El from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 375 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley. Call 215-493-1707.

Come dressed in costume to a Purim carnival hosted by Old York Road Temple Beth-Am from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 971 Old York Rd., Abington. Call 215-886-8000.

Dress up like Queen Esther or Uncle Mordecai for the annual Purim carnival hosted by Congregation Or Shalom from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at 835 Darby-Paoli Rd., Berwyn. Call 610-644-9086.

Come in costume, play games, toss bean bags, nosh on hamantashen and more at a Purim carnival hosted by Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel from 10 a.m. to noon at 300 S. 18th St., Philadelphia. Tickets will be sold at the door. Call 215-735-5148.

Beth Sholom Congregation will host its Purim carnival at noon at 8231 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. Call 215-887-1342.

Tifereth Israel invites you to celebrate Purim at an 11:30 a.m. carnival with games, activities, food and fun at 2909 Bristol Rd., Bensalem. Call 215-752-3468.

Adath Israel, Beth Am Israel, Temple Beth Hillel/Beth El, Har Zion Temple, Kaiserman JCC, the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Camp Ramah and the Kehillah of Lower Merion invites the community to a Purim event featuring moon bounces, Kindergym, balloon art, air brush tattoos, carnival games, entertainers, prizes at 45 Haverford Rd., Wynnewood. The fun is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Food available for purchase. Call 610-896-7770, Ext. 125.

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel will host its Purim carnival from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. Call 215-887-8700. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 6

Purim Story
Tifereth Israel education director Morah Mira Colflesh will lead a Purim themed story time at the Bensalem Branch Library, 3700 Hulmeville Rd., Bensalem. Come for a story, stay for an activity and snack. Call 215-752-3468.

WEDNESDAY, March 7

Purim Celebrations
Congregation M'kor Shalom will mark the holiday of Purim with the reading of the Megillat Esther and a Purim schpiel at 850 Evesham Rd., Cherry Hill, N.J. Instead of groggers, participants are asked to bring and shake a box of pasta. Following the service, all pasta will be donated to local food pantries. Call 856-424-4220.

Old York Road Temple-Beth Am will host a Purim potluck dinner prior to the reading of the Megillah at 971 Old York Rd., Abington. The fun will begin at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to 215-886-8000.

Residents along the western Main Line are invited to a zany Purim service led by Rabbi Jacob Rosner of Congregation Or Shalom at 7:30 p.m., at 835 Darby-Paoli Rd., Berwyn. Call 610-644-9086.

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel will present "The Whole Megil-lah" at 8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. The evening will open at 6 p.m. with hoagies, followed by a Megillah reading featuring "The Jewveniles." Wear your bell bottoms, tie-dyed shirts and rose-colored glasses! RSVP to 215-887-8700.

Shir Ami will mark the Purim holiday with "One Night Only, Ah-Chash-Uerus-Line," a musical Megillah Purim schpiel for adults at 7 p.m., at 101 Richboro Rd., Newtown. Costumes welcome. BYOB. Call 215-968-3400.

Hot Dog! Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel will host a hot dog dinner (vegetarian options will be available) from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 300 S. 18th St., Philadelphia. The reading of the Megillah and a Purim celebration will follow dinner. Call 215-735-5148.

Celebrate Purim with Ohev Shalom of Bucks County at the "Jewzy Boyz" schpiel at 7 p.m., at 944 Second Street Pike, Richboro. A 1970s Purim dance party with the shul's 1970s rock band E.G.O. (The Electric Glatt Orchestra) will end the evening. Call 215-322-9595.

Melrose B'nai Israel Emanu-El will host a Purim Extravaganza at 7 p.m., at 133 W. Cheltenham Ave., Cheltenham. Call 215-635-1505.

Celebrate the Purim holiday with Beth Sholom Congregation at 8231 Old York Rd., Elkins Park. A Purim dinner and costume parade will kick off the night at 6 p.m., followed by the reading of the Megillah at 6:45 p.m., and a Purim party at 8 p.m. Call 215-887-1342.

Beth Am Israel will mix the Megillah and the Beach Boys in a Purim celebration at 1301 Hagys Ford Rd., Penn Valley. Come dressed as your favorite Beach Boys' song or for a day at the beach. The evening will open at 6 p.m. Call 610-667-7860 or go to: www.BethAmIsrael.org.

Tifereth Israel will host a 5 p.m. Purim celebration with the Spiral Q Puppet Theatre at 2909 Bristol Rd., Bensalem. The festivities will include a mask-making workshop for children ages 2 to 12. A light, child-friendly (and kosher) dinner will be served. The Megillah will be read at 6:30 p.m., followed by a family-friendly Purim schpiel. Call 215-752-3468.

Dress up in Purim attire and enjoy treats and prices at Congregation Kol Ami, 8201 High School Rd., Elkins Park. The evening will kick off at 6 p.m. with the reading of the Megillah. Adults are invited to experience the holiday at a 7:30 p.m. innovative erev Purim experience. For more information, call 215-635-3110.

Germantown Jewish Centre will celebrate Purim at at 6:30 p.m., with a service, the reading of the Megillah and a schpiel for the whole family at 400 W. Ellet St., Philadelphia. Call 215-844-1507, Ext 19.

Temple Sholom will present "A Very Glee Purim," a new Purim schpiel, at 55 N. Church Lane, Broomall. After a brown bag dairy dinner (bring your own) at 5:30 p.m., sit back and enjoy the reading of the Megillah along with the schpiel. A costume contest with prizes is also planned. Call 610-356-5165.

Congregation Mikveh Israel Association, 44 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia, will host its annual Purim festival at 7:30 p.m., following the reading of the Megillah at 7:15 p.m. Fun, games, supper, face painting, pinata fun, raffles and much more! Come in sostume and join the fun. For tickets, call 215-922-5446.

THURSDAY, March 8

Idan Raichel Project
PhillyIsrael will present a Purim concert featuring the Idan Raichel Project at 7:30 p.m., at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St., Philadelphia. Raichel is known for his distinctive fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Middle Eastern and Ethiopian music. A Purim party, featuring entertainment by Rak-Dan Dancing, will follow the concert. For tickets, go to: www.phillyisrael.com. p>Harry Potter Purim
Aish Philadelphia invites you to a HarryPotter Purim featuring Hogwart's School of Magic at 50 Montgomery Ave., Bala Cywnyd. Magician, comedian and ventriloquist Tom Durnin will perform. A multi-media reading of the Megillah is planned, along with a family-style dinner and the New York band Pey Dalid. For tickets, go to: http://aishphila.com/2011/event.php?id=254.

Purim Dinner
The law firm of Allen Rothenberg will host its annual reading of the Megillah, followed by a se'udah (festive meal), at 11:30 a.m., at the Rothenberg Center, 1420 Walnut St., Philadelphia. RSVP to 215-732-7000, Ext. 5044.

Holiday Festivities
Congregation B'nai Abraham will kick off the holiday celebration at 5 p.m., with the reading of the Megillah followed by a performance for children by John the Magician at 527 Lombard St., Philadelphia. Dinner, dancing and live music is planned for 6 p.m. RSVP to 215-238-2100 or email: office@phillyshul.com.

SATURDAY, March 10

Purim Party & Auction
The Jewish Children's Folkshul of Philadelphia invites the community to its third annual Purim Party and Silent Auction at 7 p.m., at Germantown Academy, 340 Morris Rd., Fort Washington. Dance to the music of the rock-and-roll Stone Age. Costumes encouraged! Activities will include a hamantashen bake-off and a silent auction. BYOB. Dinner, soft drinks and set-ups will be available. Proceeds will benefit the Folkshul's scholarship fund. For more information, go to: http://folkshul.org/.