Cantor's Blog

Purim is coming, which means it’s time to put on a show! This year, Purim at TINW will take us back to the heyday of legwarmers, scrunchies, and big hair of the 1980s.

The tradition of performing a Purim Spiel dates long before that and can be traced back to at least the 15^th century.  The word “spiel,” which comes from the Yiddish word for “game” or “play”, began as a series of silly monologues based on rhymed summaries of Megillat Esther or other sorts of funny sermons. Its purpose was twofold: to entertain and to teach people about the story of Purim.  The overarching goal of a Purim spiel is to use self-effacing Jewish humor to appeal to audiences of all ages. We intend to do just that here at TINW.

This year’s TINW spiel, “The Totally Rad 80s Spiel,” is open to anyone in the community who is interested in participating – kids and adults alike. The spiel was written by Cantor Jamie Marx, who also wrote last year’s highly successful Hamilton-themed spiel.

We will be holding open auditions on Tuesday, February 12, beginning at 6:30pm in the community room. At 8pm, we will join with Hallel B’shir for a read-through of the script. Come just for the auditions, come just for the read-through, or come for both. Bring your favorite 80s pop song and a sense of humor. No previous musical experience is necessary. We will ask you if you prefer a solo or ensemble role and we may have you read a few lines from the script.

Please e-mail Cantor Fogelman at cantor@tinw.org if you plan to attend and indicate your preferred time slot. Walk-ins are welcome as well. If you have a conflict, Cantor Fogelman would be happy to make alternative arrangements.

Our youth and teen choirs, Glee and Selah, will also be featured in the spiel. We welcome other children who might be interested in joining the fun. Kids and teens are welcome to audition on Feb 12 if they would like. They have a few special songs in the spiel that will be rehearsed on Sunday March 3 and Sunday March 10. Please be in touch with Cantor Fogelman if you would like more information on youth participation.

We look forward to creating an awesomely tubular experience for the entire TINW community!