Purim costumes

It’s Purim in Jerusalem – Best Costume and Parade Photos

Sharon A

Favorites of Jerusalem Purim 2025 in Photos

Purim is a major festival time in Jerusalem, Israel.

Even though we celebrated this year on a day when the Megillah Esther was not read,

on the Jerusalem streets, it is hard to miss the color and celebrations.

Store windows are lined with food gift baskets of all sizes to give as Mishloah Manot.

Readings for Megillah Esther seem to be everywhere and every hour in some neighborhoods.

We went to a small synagogue this year where red hats were in vogue in various styles. We were able to hear every word. In many larger congregations, the noisemakers drown out the reader.

Some masks were good disguise, but not so pleasant,

but this woman’s mask was a Purim favorite.

This year Purim stretched over 3 days from Thursday night to Sunday night. However, Sunday was when the main events were held on the Jerusalem streets, with a Purim Parade starting in the morning and dancing in the streets into the afternoon.

The police band led off the parade, with the yellow ribbon for the hostages behind, followed by the Mayor and honored guests, the families of hostages.

The Train Theater developed dozens of new floats. This guy was a favorite of mine.,

Her smile at the start of the Parade was also a favorite.

Characters in costume interacted with the thousands of spectators of all ages that lined the route.

Imagine walking the Jerusalem streets on stilts! I have enough trouble in flat shoes.

One colorful creation after another, some hard to describe,

moved slowly along the Jerusalem streets.

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Short ones and long ones, dozens of creations to entertain on Purim.

These young acrobats were impressive to watch as they flipped along the Jerusalem streets.

This man won my best spectator hat prize, I wish I had captured the plant before or after he passed the tree so you could see the forest on his head more clearly.

Some spectators’ costumes were as impressive as the parade participants,

like this guy who walked by – oh my.

There was a new huge yellow lion this year,

plus little ducks in a row.

Even a live animal walking along with the hundreds of people in the parade was appreciated.

Colorfully dressed belly dancers performed as they walked,

while agile young athletes did impressive stunts.

And yes, Spider-Man was there, along with the white doves, marchers, floats, and more.

It was warm and sunny and a great day for a parade,

but that was not all…

We went to a family Purim Seuda, a holiday meal with lots of grilled meats and salads.

However, this was not our family meal.

As Purim was ending, President Herzog hosted an elegant Iftar, a Ramadan break fast meal, at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, for Israeli and Arab leaders.

I recognized and got a smile from IDF Arabic spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adrae.

The dessert looked amazing but after eating all day, it was time to go home and not try the treats.

I went by this sign on the way home, “Am Yisrael Chai” Israel has been at war for over 500 days with 59 hostages, but life goes on on the Jerusalem streets as thousands of our finest risk their lives in the north and south on reserve duty. Their young families try to keep going on the home front.

Purim is a day of upside-downs, but that was not all…

It’s not easy, and hard to believe – but the Nation of Israel not only lives but thrives.

The Best of Purim in Jerusalem

Sharon A

Purim in Jerusalem, Israel, is so very strange every year.

Purim is celebrated the day after the rest of the world- on what is called Shushan Purim. The street sign for Queen Esther is not really upside down.

Shushan Street sign in Jerusalem, Israel

There is also a street called Shushan Street – it’s near Safra Square.

Things feel different as the rest of the world has moved on and in Jerusalem, we are just finally getting started with the upside down.

Clowning around and colorful clowns abound.

The demise of Haman was announced but not mourned on this sign posted on a message board at a local community center.

After weeks of preparation, Shushan Purim went by with too much happening to capture it all. Nachlaot and many Jerusalem streets were bursting with costumed crowds, but here are a few favorites…

Best little guy costume

and an even cuter littlest one!

Not only little dinos, but space men were popular this year.

NASA better watch out for these future astronauts.

Best big hair,

Best big blue mask,

the very best big ears,

and the best underwear for a hat.

Jerusalem synagogues were filled for the readings of Megilat Esther.

Beer, wine, and booze were found inside and outside on the streets.

Chabad again sponsored multiple Megillah readings at night and all day long on King George Street and around.

But also in Jerusalem community parks hundreds assembled to hear the story of Esther repeated at night.

And there were musical events before and after the Megillah was read. How nice to see that on the Jerusalem streets where protesters usually shout against the Prime Minister, people sat quietly together to celebrate Purim.

The Megillah is read by night and by day,

Photo credit: Heddy Breuer Abramowitz

and more young women have undertaken the reading of the Megillah at special readings for women.

This year Jerusalem’s Shushan Purim day of celebration coincided with March 8 and International Women’s Day, so no new piece this time.

Therefore, I thought I’d share a women’s event held on March 9th at Shalva.

A Playback Theater experience with workshops especially for women.

Led by Toby Klein Greenwald and her expert drama and therapist cohosts, right after Purim, 100 women impressively participated in performance and movement and powerful improv workshops.

Plus, the Shalva building has many inspirational sayings lining its walls.

Where else on Purim would you enjoy such a lovely view while delivering a Mishloah Manot dinner to a friend, when stopped at a traffic light?

Purim is finally finished on Jerusalem streets.

Now the Jerusalem Marathon signs for Jerusalem street closings are up.

Tens of thousands of runners are registered to fill the Jerusalem streets on Friday, March 17, 2023. One of the finish lines is ready and the full marathon finish in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is being built.

My Purim hair/costume is put away until next year.

Pesach prep has begun.

Always something positive happening on the Jerusalem streets, when are you coming to see it?

Best of Purim in Jerusalem

Sharon A

This year, Jerusalem celebrated Purim officially Thursday night and Friday. While the rest of the world moved on, Jerusalem neighborhoods came alive on Thursday night with Shushan Purim celebrations.

In a new touch, birds flocked to Jaffa Road across from the Tzahal Square. The colorful avian visitors landed the week before Purim.

Remember what was there last year? No? Don’t feel bad, I had to check.

The Purim 2021 RJS post written during Covid lockdowns is linked at the end of this blog. Oh, those corona blur events.

Those birds reminded me of the expression ‘shouting from the rooftops’ which is apparently a very old one.

Corner stone from Beit Hamikdash in Israel Museum

I wonder if it came from the proclamation of the onset of Shabbat in Jerusalem from the Temple precincts. Remember the cornerstone found in the Israel Museum?

The monster was back over Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

However, today Purim is over and it was taken down.

Kikar Safra, Safra Square, was lined with Purim posters early in the week.

Celebrations were held by the Municipality from 11-2:200 pm with planned entertainment. On Friday Purim celebrations are complicated because of Shabbat. When to read the megillah, when to eat the meal, and more?

I decided to make hamantashen this year, peanut butter and chocolate, blueberry jam, and homemade strawberry jam. They came out great and quickly disappeared.

I liked how the synagogue was decorated for Purim and the megillah reading when we entered at night.

And how the people came ready to celebrate in style.

Readings of Megillat Esther were too numerous to count, at night, and every hour during the day in multiple locations in many Jerusalem neighborhoods, both inside and outside.

The costumes that appeared on the Jerusalem streets were as varied as could be imagined.

At this popular Jerusalem spot, a large group crowded in for a megillah reading.

I wondered how many knew that women were reading the megillah before they came?

But the crowd stayed, and quietly paid attention, making noise only to blot out the name of evil Haman.

In the morning as I was watching for cute costumes, the first colorful couple I saw turned out to be people I know!

Our annual morning family reading has grown over the years.

In Jerusalem, I have a thing I call – Purim or not Purim? – all year long it is hard to tell what some folks are wearing. For example, one young woman had her long hair dark brunette on one side and blond on the other – and it wasn’t Purim, just a regular day on a regular street.

United Hatzalah has been working overtime with the war in Ukraine and refugees fleeing to the borders and needing assistance. This family has United Hatzalah vans parked outside regularly- not just Purim.

But their Purim mishloah manot wins my prize as most clever this year.

Pizza came in handy to serve for dinner on these Purim preparation upside-down days.

And one guy decided he was Pizza Man?

Across the street, this guy thought he could avoid getting captured?

Two couples I know in one day, double jackpot Purim fun.

Hansen House was supposed to be filled with costumed Purim celebrants, but on Friday the weather was too wet and dreary to be outside. But downtown people did come to see the colorful and varied entertainers.

As I was racing along to beat the rain and get to my Purim meal, this guy was impressive enough to get us to stop. Not only was he colorful enough for a second glance, so was his companion.

The Purim feast was a great one. The sushi was almost gone, but with enough cold cuts left over, we had some for Shabbat lunch. A good idea when there is not enough time on Friday for the usual Shabbat preparations.

Next week we have to change the clock on Friday and it’s time for the Jerusalem Marathon. Flags are up over the Jerusalem streets.

Are we really back to normal?

That’s it for now, and until next year – Happy Purim!

פורים שמח

So who remembers last year?

Here’s to hoping we really are post corona and we will see you all soon on the Jerusalem streets!