Haman

We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.William James THE JEWISH holiday of Purim points out striking similarity between the dreaded Haman and Saddam Hussein. Though separated historically by five centuries, the two tyrants share a common trait: lust for power. To attain their goal, they commit outrageous acts of terror. And, typical of bullies, they target the weak and innocent for their treachery.While the story of Purim has a fairy-tale quality found frequently in biblical history, it seems relevant at this time of world crisis.

On November 4, 2004, ALBERT JOHNPETERS, JR., beloved husband of the late Thelma E. (nee Hartig); devoted father of Albert J. Peters, III and his wife Linda; dear brother of Gertrude Barlett and Charolette Dodson; loving grandfather of Amy J. Haman and Albert J. Peters, IV; great-grandfather of Robert Poremski and Kirk Peters. A Catholic Prayer service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Ave. on Monday, at 10 AM. Interment Oak Lawn Cemetery.

On Monday February 16, 2004 BENJAMIN R. MICHAELSON, beloved husband of the late Rachael Michaelson (nee Garonzik); devoted father of Judith M. Haman; beloved father-in-law of Stuart Haman; beloved brother of Marvyn Michaelson and the late Leon, Sam, Oscar (Mike), Jack, Rose and Manny Michaelson and Lillian Zalis; loving grandfather of Randi Cara Haman. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS INC., 8900 Reisterstown Rd at Mt. Wilson Ln, on Wednesday February 18 at 12 noon. Interment Oheb Shalom Memorial Park, Berrymans Lane.

Flashing a wide smile, Gabe Gammil showed off the tiny portrait of Elmo painted on one cheek and Oscar the Grouch on the other as a face painter immortalized Big Bird on his forehead. "I think it's kind of funny," the 9-year-old giggled. A few feet away, costumed children danced the Hokey Pokey while others ate kosher pizza and tried their hand at such games as "Give Haman A Toothache" and "Queen Esther's Bowl-A-Thon." The revelry is a hallmark of the Purim Carnival sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Howard County.

Many Jews will don costumes as they celebrate the joyous feast of Purim tomorrow."This is a truly unique holiday with no set decorum," said Rabbi Seymour Essrog, spiritual leader of Beth Shalom congregation in Taylorsville. "It is the Jewish response to Halloween or Mardi Gras."Beth Shalom congregation will observe Purim, also known as the Feast of Lots, at 8 p.m. tomorrow at 2020 Liberty Road. All are invited to participate.The holiday commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from a massacre planned thousands of years ago by Haman, an adviser to the Persian king.

On November 4, 2004, ALBERT JOHNPETERS, JR., beloved husband of the late Thelma E. (nee Hartig); devoted father of Albert J. Peters, III and his wife Linda; dear brother of Gertrude Barlett and Charolette Dodson; loving grandfather of Amy J. Haman and Albert J. Peters, IV; great-grandfather of Robert Poremski and Kirk Peters. A Catholic Prayer service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Ave. on Monday, at 10 AM. Interment Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Part lecture, part performance art, part dialogue with the audience and part traditional drama, Theatre Company Jerusalem's "Esther" is a little like seeing sections of the Talmud, the ancient Jewish commentaries on the Old Testament, acted out on stage. In this idiosyncratic one-woman show, however, the commentaries have a strong feminist slant and draw parallels to the Holocaust. The thought-provoking show has arrived at the Theatre Project just in time to serve as a lead-in to the Jewish holiday of Purim, which celebrates the story of Esther.

Costumed queens, sweets, song, satire and Sloppy Joes were just part of the festivities at Columbia synagogues this week marking Purim, the Jewish holiday that encourages fun and revelry as part of the observance. "This is the one where they encourage you to eat, drink and be merry," said Rabbi Mark Panoff of Temple Isaiah. Purim, celebrated Monday evening through Tuesday evening, commemorates the victory of Persian Jews over a royal edict 2,300 years ago that called for their destruction.

Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the evil intentions of Haman, prime minister to Ahasuerus, king of ancient Persia in the sixth century B.C. Perhaps the jolliest of all Jewish holidays, with great emphasis on food, merriment and all kinds of festivities, it begins this year on the evening of Feb. 27.Haman is the focus of many of the traditions surrounding this occasion. In the synagogue, for instance, when the Mella (scroll) of Esther is being read, people twirl noisemakers called groggers every time Haman's name is mentioned.

In the light-filled atrium of Columbia's Long Reach High School, 8-year-old Jordan Baruch twirled 10 Hula-Hoops for 4 1/2 seconds as a disc jockey spun Jewish music. After jumping on the Moonbounce, 6-year-old Jacob Lozinsky - dressed in a karate jacket - busily decorated a noisemaker. Meredith Grossman, 7, waited at the face-painting booth for her purple unicorn. In an adjacent room, volunteer Caitlin Pomerantz - a.k.a. Raggedy Ann - explained the rules of "Queen Esther's Tightrope Walk" with mother, Lisa, as families ate kosher pizza and cotton candy.

On Monday February 16, 2004 BENJAMIN R. MICHAELSON, beloved husband of the late Rachael Michaelson (nee Garonzik); devoted father of Judith M. Haman; beloved father-in-law of Stuart Haman; beloved brother of Marvyn Michaelson and the late Leon, Sam, Oscar (Mike), Jack, Rose and Manny Michaelson and Lillian Zalis; loving grandfather of Randi Cara Haman. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS INC., 8900 Reisterstown Rd at Mt. Wilson Ln, on Wednesday February 18 at 12 noon. Interment Oheb Shalom Memorial Park, Berrymans Lane.

In the light-filled atrium of Columbia's Long Reach High School, 8-year-old Jordan Baruch twirled 10 Hula-Hoops for 4 1/2 seconds as a disc jockey spun Jewish music. After jumping on the Moonbounce, 6-year-old Jacob Lozinsky - dressed in a karate jacket - busily decorated a noisemaker. Meredith Grossman, 7, waited at the face-painting booth for her purple unicorn. In an adjacent room, volunteer Caitlin Pomerantz - a.k.a. Raggedy Ann - explained the rules of "Queen Esther's Tightrope Walk" with mother, Lisa, as families ate kosher pizza and cotton candy.

Costumed queens, sweets, song, satire and Sloppy Joes were just part of the festivities at Columbia synagogues this week marking Purim, the Jewish holiday that encourages fun and revelry as part of the observance. "This is the one where they encourage you to eat, drink and be merry," said Rabbi Mark Panoff of Temple Isaiah. Purim, celebrated Monday evening through Tuesday evening, commemorates the victory of Persian Jews over a royal edict 2,300 years ago that called for their destruction.

Purim, which starts at dusk tomorrow, is the most festive of all the Jewish holidays. A reminder of the Jews' deliverance from the threat of annihilation in ancient Persia, it is celebrated with frolic and feasting. The wicked Haman, for whom the most popular hamantaschen cookies are named, was the chief minister of Ahasuerus, the Persian king. Haman wished to exterminate the Jews of the Persian Empire because he thought one Jew, Mordecai, had failed to show him proper respect. But King Ahasuerus' newlywed queen, the beautiful Esther, was also, unbeknownst to him, a Jew and the cousin and ward of Mordecai and told him of Haman's plot.

Part lecture, part performance art, part dialogue with the audience and part traditional drama, Theatre Company Jerusalem's "Esther" is a little like seeing sections of the Talmud, the ancient Jewish commentaries on the Old Testament, acted out on stage. In this idiosyncratic one-woman show, however, the commentaries have a strong feminist slant and draw parallels to the Holocaust. The thought-provoking show has arrived at the Theatre Project just in time to serve as a lead-in to the Jewish holiday of Purim, which celebrates the story of Esther.

Many Jews will don costumes as they celebrate the joyous feast of Purim tomorrow."This is a truly unique holiday with no set decorum," said Rabbi Seymour Essrog, spiritual leader of Beth Shalom congregation in Taylorsville. "It is the Jewish response to Halloween or Mardi Gras."Beth Shalom congregation will observe Purim, also known as the Feast of Lots, at 8 p.m. tomorrow at 2020 Liberty Road. All are invited to participate.The holiday commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from a massacre planned thousands of years ago by Haman, an adviser to the Persian king.

Flashing a wide smile, Gabe Gammil showed off the tiny portrait of Elmo painted on one cheek and Oscar the Grouch on the other as a face painter immortalized Big Bird on his forehead. "I think it's kind of funny," the 9-year-old giggled. A few feet away, costumed children danced the Hokey Pokey while others ate kosher pizza and tried their hand at such games as "Give Haman A Toothache" and "Queen Esther's Bowl-A-Thon." The revelry is a hallmark of the Purim Carnival sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Howard County.

We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.William James THE JEWISH holiday of Purim points out striking similarity between the dreaded Haman and Saddam Hussein. Though separated historically by five centuries, the two tyrants share a common trait: lust for power. To attain their goal, they commit outrageous acts of terror. And, typical of bullies, they target the weak and innocent for their treachery.While the story of Purim has a fairy-tale quality found frequently in biblical history, it seems relevant at this time of world crisis.