Purim is celebrated by the reading of the Scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillat Esther, which relates the basic story of Purim. Under the rule of King Ahashuerus, Haman, the King’s prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of the land from destruction. The reading of the Megillah is typically a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud. The significance in Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become – a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival against all odds.
We're looking for volunteers to help make this Purim a fantastic celebration for our community! There are many ways to get involved, whether you enjoy baking, cooking, organizing, or greeting guests. Let us know if you're willing to lend a hand.
Adult Game Night with Spielbound
Monday, March 2, 6-8 p.m.
at Temple Israel of Omaha
Celebrate Purim with a night of fun, laughter, and friendly competition at our Adult Game Night! We’ll have a wide variety of games available—from classics to crowd favorites—so there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just in it for the laughs. With games provided by Spielbound, a host will be on hand to help explain rules, organize play, and keep the energy high.
This is a relaxed, come-as-you-are evening designed for all ages (21+) and all skill levels. Drop in, try something new, or stick with a favorite—no experience required, just a willingness to have fun and connect with others.
To keep the celebration going, we’ll be serving drinks along with heavy snacks and hors d’oeuvres throughout the night. Bring your Purim spirit, your playful side, and get ready for a joyful evening of games, good food, and great company.
Tickets are $20 per person. Registering multiple gamers at once? You’ll automatically receive a discounted rate at checkout.
Registration Deadline is February 26.
Registration for donations opens on Monday, January 26 and closes Sunday, February 15 (Reminders: You have to be logged into your ShulCloud account to purchase. Also the campaign does take time to load, so please be patient with the website).
What is Mishloach Manot? Mishloach Manot are gifts of food that friends (and prospective new friends!) exchange on Purim. We are instructed in the scroll of Esther (9:19) to send gifts to one another. We are excited to once again offer this opportunity to participate in this fun tradition and support Temple Israel, where the proceeds raised benefit our education programs.
This year, we’re reimagining things in a meaningful way. Instead of giving everyone a physical gift basket, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank of the Heartland in your honor, helping ensure our neighbors have access to food and care. The donation itself is the gift. Everyone will still receive a card in the mail, celebrating that a gift was made on their behalf and the impact it’s making in our wider community.
How can you participate? If you would like to “sign” the card of someone’s Mishloach Manot so they know you are thinking of them, simply donate in increments of $10. At a maximum donation of $180 dollars, you will sign the card of the entire congregation.
When they receive their gift, they will see your name on their card and know you made a donation in their honor.
What is Reciprocity? It is the ultimate & easiest gift. If you select reciprocity and someone buys Mishloach Manot specifically for you, the campaign will automatically make sure that you return the favor and charge you $10 (There is still only a maximum cost of $180 total).
If you have any questions, please contact Allyson Genereux, agenereux@templeisraelomaha.com
Looking to Volunteer?
Reach out to Allyson Genereux to learn about our Hamantaschen Bake on February 22!
The Purim Raffle is a HUGE fundraiser for Temple Israel's Educational Programming. With your help, we will be able to provide Jewish Education to our community. We are raffling off some absolutely INCREDIBLE prizes to do so. All of our PreK through Grade 7 students are selling tickets. Raffle tickets are solely sold online and you can buy tickets based upon the prizes you want to win! We are running our raffle through Zeffy. Upon check out, it will automatically add a percentage to cover fees. This is not a requirement; please donate to the fees at your own discretion.
This year’s prizes include:
- Omaha Children’s Museum Family Admission Pass
- Henry Doorly Zoo Four Daytime Admission Tickets
- Omaha Symphony Package
- Four Tickets to Vala’s Pumpkin and Apple Orchard
- Four Omaha Stormchasers Tickets
- Julee Levine’s Mystery Box (minimum $50 value)
- Benson Dinner and Concert Package
- Prizes from our Camp Partners
- A Reserved Temple Israel Parking Space for one year!
and many more!!
Tickets are $5 each. The prize drawings will take place during the Temple Israel Purim Carnival. You do not need to be present to win.
It’s Not Easy Being Queen (A Muppet Megillah)
Greetings, Culture Lovers! Get ready to laugh, BANG DRUMS, and celebrate Purim—Muppet style! We’re bringing the story of Esther to life with a fuzzy, funny twist inspired by everyone’s favorite felt-filled cast. Expect big personalities, over-the-top characters, and plenty of joyful chaos as our “Muppets” take on heroes, villains, and a few unexpected surprises. This delightfully absurd Purim celebration reminds us that courage, community, and a little silliness can truly save the day.
Want to get in on the fun? We need some actors! If you’re looking for a part for our March 1 Spiel, big or small, & are available to rehearse Feb. 10 (3-4 p.m.) & Feb. 25 (1:30-2:30 p.m.), reach out to Allyson!
We’re excited for what this year’s carnival brings! We have a variety of games and activities for all interests and ages. Purchase your meal cards and tickets (along with your raffle tickets!) here.
This year’s Carnival Games include:
- Bounce House (1 Game Card Punch)
- Cotton Candy ( 2 Game Card Punches)
- Monster Smash (2 Game Card Punches)
- Spin Art (3 Game Card Punches)
- Face Painting (5 Game Card Punches)
- Tattoo Artist (5 Game Card Punches)
- and 10+ more!!
Game Cards will be used for all activities at the Carnival. Most activities will cost 1-4 punches. All activities will be labeled with their “punch cost” and their potential winnings! One game card will have 20 punches and cost $10. We recommend at least one game card per child.
Turn those tickets you win in the games and activities into some stellar prizes! From 1 ticket all the way up to 40 tickets, everyone’s a winner!
Put On Your Best Costume: This year, we’re giving 10 prize tickets for those who show up in Costume!
We will once again be serving a meal during the carnival. The cost of a meal card is $5 and will get you a hot dog, a bag of chips, hamantaschen, and a drink!