The Kansas City Jewish community will have a new way to celebrate Purim this year with BELIEVE In Purim, a soccer-themed Purim event.
This free event, which will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, at Children’s Mercy Park, brings together the entire community for fun, games, mitzvah and more.
The result of collaboration between a number of local congregations and Jewish agencies, BELIEVE In Purim will include activities for all ages and is open to all. Hosted in the Budweiser Tap Room at Children’s Mercy Park, there will be games, food, a megillah reading, mitzvah opportunities and fun. More information and registration can be found at PurimKC.org.
“The celebration at Children’s Mercy Park will be an incredible Purim celebration for all ages,” said Rabbi David Glickman, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom. “It brings together Conservative, Reform, Orthodox and Jews of no synagogue affiliation. We will have both an egalitarian megillah reading (where men and women read the megillah) as well as an Orthodox megillah reading, and there will be maker spaces to create mishloach manot (the gifts of food we give on Purim) as well as chances to give tzedakah to the poor (another mitzvah of Purim!).”
The collaboration has created the opportunity to create a Purim event like no other.
“It is the most robust and deep collaboration across synagogues and agencies I’ve ever worked on since arriving in Kansas City and will truly be a Purim to remember,” Glickman said.
“The Federation is a firm believer that collaboration among our institutions builds strong community,” said Dr. Helene Lotman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “What better way to demonstrate that – and to celebrate what we hope is our emergence from the pandemic – than a community-wide Purim party?”
Congregations including Congregation Beth Shalom; The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; Congregation Ohev Sholom; Congregation Beth Torah; Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner; and New Reform Temple, along with Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City; Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy; The J; and Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, have worked together to sponsor the event. In addition, Josef Loeffler made a generous donation in support of the event.
Guests are invited to dress as their favorite Ted Lasso character, in a soccer-themed costume, or in something unique to Kansas City or London. The Ted Lasso theme of the event ties in with the location as well as the story of Purim itself.
“The runaway Apple TV Hit ‘Ted Lasso’ – like the story of the Book of Esther – is about the unlikely victory of a group of perennial underdogs,” Glickman said. “The winsome Kansas coach, Ted Lasso, coaches the British soccer team with constant lessons of inner strength and personal kindness. All of these are themes that both reflect many of the themes of Purim – and the type of inspiration we all need after two years of Covid.”
Guests are encouraged to register ahead of time by visiting PurimKC.org. All vaccine-eligible people must be vaccinated in order to attend. All attendees will be required to wear masks while indoors except while eating or drinking.