For the past two weeks, SAR High School students have been ushering in Adar in full spirit and last week they celebrated the joyous holiday of Purim with learning, ruach and simcha.

Leading up to the big night, every day of Adar had a theme. One day, students decorated the Beit Midrash in honor of the month of Adar. There were dress up days, including one where students dressed as teachers and teachers dressed as students. There was a Guess the Teacher competition where students were asked to guess the teacher dressed in a Purim costume from their youth.

On Wednesday, teachers and students sang their hearts out in a soulful Purim Farbengan led by Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg followed by a Teacher Hamantashen Bake-Off…from Ms. Edelman’s Great Gatsby-themed delights to Ms. Abittan’s guide to her Hamantashen-making technique and Ms. Samstein’s Sephardi creations, which were all delicious.

On Taanit Esther, teachers and students participated in the mitzvot of Machatzit Ha’Shekel, the giving of half a shekel which in ancient times was used to support the communal offerings in the Beit Hamikdash, and matanot l’evyonim, giving money you’ve earned yourself to those in need so that others have the means to celebrate the joys of life.

The celebrations culminated on Purim night featuring beautiful Megillah reading, chagiga and kumsitz with entertainment from Eitan Katz, and an original Purim spiel with an extensive cast of seniors. Adley U. says, “The best part of making the video was watching those who couldn’t agree on a single political issue agree on punchlines. The ability to poke good fun at each other encapsulates the very ethos of Purim. The most challenging part was getting all the absences cleared because I missed classes to film! The overall feedback on the film was that it was not only hilarious but so creatively written and well produced by my peers.”

It was definitely a Purim to remember.