Purim Shpiel

Purim, the loudest of all Jewish Holidays, commemorates the saving of the Jews of Persia by Queen Esther. It has been the tradition in synagogues to celebrate this holiday with a fun-filled religious service that includes the reading of the Book of Esther, or the Megillah, that tells the story of how Esther, a Jewish queen in ancient Persia risked her life to save all the Jews in the land. It has been a tradition here at Congregation Kol Haverim, to follow the Megillah reading with a humorous musical version of the story, called a Purim Shpiel. (Shpiel is the Yiddish word for Play). 

Ensemble building. Community building. It's what the CKH Purim Shpiel is all about. That and, of course, telling the story of Esther in new and fun musical ways! So, come join our intergenerational cast and crew as we work hard, play theater games, learn, grow and have fun! Want to get involved with acting, set crew, props, costumes, tech & audio, "Shpielbill" or fundraising? Please contact our director Ellen Topel Dougherty membership@kolhaverim.org.  

For information about getting involved with music at Congregation Kol Haverim please contact our Musical Director Tami Sherman.

Not able to help out? No worries. Just come and enjoy the show! Shpiel is nothing without you, our audience!

The Shpiels that we have produced are:

• 2019 - HamiltonShpiel 2019: A Purim Musical.
• 2018 - The Book of Esther According to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 
• 2017 - The Book of Esther According to Taylor Swift 
• 2016 - The Book of Esther According to the Eagles
• 2015 - The Book of Esther - Pop Punk
• 2014 - The Book of Esther according to Classic Disney Theme Songs
• 2013 - The Book of Esther according to the Beach Boys
• 2012 - 10th Year Retrospective
• 2011 - The Book of Esther according to Elvis Presley
• 2010 - The Book of Esther according to ABBA
• 2009 - The Book of Esther according to The Beatles
• 2008 - The Book of Esther according to Billy Joel
• 2007 - “Haman’s Plan” an original Purim Shpiel with Music by Arnie Davidson and book and lyrics by Fred Mann.
• 2006 - The Book of Esther according to Classic British Rock and Roll
• 2005 - The Book of Esther according to Classic TV Theme Songs
• 2004 - The Book of Esther according to Paul Simon
• 2003 - The Book of Esther according to Elton John

From 2003 through 2018 our Shpiels were written by one of our congregants, Fred Mann. Together with Tami Cherdack Sherman, our Cantorial Soloist, Fred directed members of our congregation in these annual productions. For information about the 14 original Purim Shpiels written by Fred Mann, visit  https://gotshpiel.wordpress.com/. 

The Book of Esther according to the Eagles - 2016