Jewish community begins Purim celebration

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - The Jewish community here in western Mass. began their celebration of Purim.

Lots of fun activities were planned at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy in Longmeadow.

Purim celebrates the Jewish survival from enemies in ancient Persia.

A reading of the story of Purim was followed by a clown performance on Saturday night.

A rabbi told 22News what the holiday is really all about.

“On the surface, this look like an amazing tail of serendipity. Of things that just happened to have happened. Yet we scratch the surface and we find that God's hand is throughout the story,” Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky said.

And in case you're wondering why people are dressed up, it's traditional to wear a costume during the holiday.

On Sunday, the Jewish holiday celebration continues with a four course feast and live petting zoo at Forest Park in Springfield.