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Purim
in Hawaii
according to the Book of Esther
from the Forverts
edition of April 11, 1943
A set of 5 pictures
showing how Jewish servicemen stationed in Hawaii celebrated the annual
festival of Purim. Observed on the 14h Adar, the festival commemorates
the deliverance of Persian Jews from Haman’s plot to exterminate them.
(Photos by John Hirschman from Hqrs. Hawaiian Department.)
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CELEBRATING A
VICTORY OVER A FORERUNNER OF HITLER. – Part of the large
congregation of soldiers and sailors who crowded the Jewish
Community Center of Honolulu, Hawaii, to attend Purim
services in commemoration of the downfall of Haman, arch-foe
of Persian Jewry over 24 centuries ago. Leading the
congregation in prayer is Chaplain Norman Siegel, Asst.
Department Chaplain of the Hawaiian Department, who was
recently promoted to the rank of captain. Seated beside the
Ark of the Law is Chaplain H. Cerf Straus, USNR.
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SERVICEMEN
OF THE JEWISH FAITH LISTEN TO THE STORY OF AN ANCIENT
PLOT TO DESTROY JEWRY. — A scene during the reading of
the Megilah (Book of Esther) by Private Max Reiser at
the Jewish Community Center of Honolulu, Hawaii. Pvt.
Reiser, an M. P. hailing from Philadelphia, is shown
with his back to the camera. Facing the uniformed
congregation is Chaplain Norman Siegel, under whose
supervision Pvt. Reiser recited the story of Haman’s
plotting against the Jews in ancient Persia, and how
they were saved by Mordecai and Esther who discovered
his plot to kill Persia’s king as well.
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THANKSGIVING.—
Jewish soldiers, sailors and war workers in Hawaii, pictured
at Purim services as they offered thanks for the victory of
Haman and prayed for the defeat of present-day tyrants. The
synagogue, maintained by the Jewish Community Center of
Honolulu, was so crowded that many worshipers stood in the
aisles and in the doorway.
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PURIM FEAST at the Jewish
Community Center of Honolulu – The traditional “Hamantaschen” were baked
by Sgt. Leibowitz, formerly of New York, while Honolulu Jewish matrons
prepared the “gefilte fish” for the ceremonial dinner which was arranged
by the Jewish Welfare Board.
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