Purim parties turn to bomb shelters as Israelis celebrate under the threat of war with Iran

TEL AVIV, Israel — The holiday of Purim is usually marked with noisy street parades and costume parties to celebrate the Jewish victory over the ancient Persian ruler. This year, the celebrations moved to the bomb shelter of the fortress as the country waged war against Iran’s modern leaders.

In Tel Aviv on Monday, people of all ages dressed in sequined suits, bunny ears, pirate costumes and peacock feathers streamed into the mall’s underground parking lot, which also serves as a bomb shelter, for a traditional reading of the Purim story followed by dancing to a live band.

“It’s about choosing happiness, choosing to be happy, what else is going on,” said Tel Aviv resident Mariel Margulis, who set up a tent in a parking garage and has been living there for the past few days with her husband and 6-month-old baby. They dressed up as bathing people, with bathrobes and their son Amichai as a rubber duck, and created a bathtub play area next to their tent.

The story of Purim, told in the Book of Esther, follows Haman, an adviser to King Ahasuerus, who plans to exterminate the kingdom’s Jews. Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai thwarted this plan. The story takes place in Shushan, Persia, in present-day Iran.

“It feels like biblical proportions, what’s going on right now, and we’re doing a little bit, staying calm, staying happy,” Mariel said. Nearby, Amichai lays through loud “boos” from the crowd to drown out the name of Haman, the story’s villain, during a reading from the Book of Esther.

“It’s like the same plot of Purim with a different character,” said Daniel Margulies, Mariel’s husband.

Purim, a beloved holiday for both religious and secular Jews, takes place in much of the Jewish world starting Monday night. The holiday begins a day later in the ancient walled cities, including Jerusalem.

During quieter times, families in colorful costumes crowd the downtown stretches, children gobble up traditional triangular cookies in abundance. Dressing in costumes and drinking heavily is customary.

In Jerusalem, musicians watch the main drag on balconies and street parties on stone sidewalks stretch into the evening.

Massive parties are planned this year after a gap of two years. Many cities have canceled or scaled back their Purim celebrations over the past two years because of the Israel-Hamas war.

But celebrations were once again marred by war after Israel and the US launched strikes against Iran on Saturday

“We came because the kids didn’t want to miss Purim, they were really excited,” said Elisa Rapoport, a Tel Aviv resident who works in investment. Barbie Cowgirl from K-Pop Demon Hunters and her daughters dress up like Rumi.

With most Purim celebrations canceled, the family planned their walk to the Purim event to hopscotch between easy access to the shelter. Iranian missiles have sent Israelis for cover many times day and night.

“It just feels surreal,” Rapoport said, watching the celebrations, as hundreds of people gathered and danced under the parking lot’s fluorescent lights. Nearby, people who had moved into wartime shelters and their dogs relaxed on air mattresses, scrolling through their phones.

“It is not the most ideal conditions, we are used to our synagogue, but we are here together with all of the nation of Israel,” said Gabi Grinshtain, a 39-year-old environmental consultant. “These are important days, and the setting is less important.”