I remember like it was...almost a year ago.  Our synagogue's Purim Schpiel.  It was surprisingly the first Schpiel our shul had ever put on and it was a huge hit.  For those of you whose synagogues have not as yet caught the schpiel spirit, I'll explain.  It's basically bad community theater with a Purim theme.  The cantor and congregants write (or buy) a funny play based on the Megillah.  Usually this involves the re-writing the lyrics of Broadway or other popular songs (again with the Megillah in mind).  A couple of lines poking fun at the synagogue machars and clergy are usually added for some topical humor.  It's a whole lot of fun and brings together everyone--Sisterhood, Brotherhood, the kids, the clergy--really good ones can draw High Holiday type crowds (hmmmm, I might be exaggerating a bit).  But it's fun.

Last year Sofie was in the Children's Choir.  As such, she was automatically in the Schpiel.  (She actually got called back for "Young Esther" in the try-outs, but ended up as one of the children of Shushan.)  So, when the Cantor asked the Brotherhood guys (during the weekly basketball game) to step up for some of the male roles, my husband volunteered.

And that's how we got a child of Shushan and Wiseman #3 in our family.

Together they went to practice on Sunday afternoons.  Together they practiced their songs.  Together they ran lines (okay, one line!) but they practiced together.  It was wonderful--such Schpiel bonding.

The afternoon of the performance, Jonathan called me from work and said maybe it would be a good idea if he had a costume.  (Yes, ladies, I'm sure none of you are surprised by the timing of the request--mere hours before the performance, with children expected home from school at any moment, who would then have homework to do and dinner to eat before we left for shul and I was suddenly tasked with getting a costume for Wiseman #3!)  And, yes, I did it.  Thank goodness for Party City and their left over Halloween stuff.  I found golden Roman lace-up sandals, a black robe (that was supposed to be part of "the Grim Reaper's" costume, but I thought worked for a wiseman), and a really gross looking long black beard.  Imagine Julius Caesar as Death who hasn't shaved...ever.  We met Jonathan in the lobby, he dashed into the Men's Room to put on the costume.  No one recognized him.

On stage, the play progressed in all it's adorability.  The Sisterhood women were glorious as Vashti and Esther.  The kids were so cute.  Our young cantor was, of course, the king.  And, then came time for the Wisemen.

The king asked the wisemen for advice.  One by one each man from Brotherhood stepped up to the microphone and dutifully said his line.  Until Jonathan.  Jonathan decided to act.  The king/cantor asked the question and Wiseman #3 began to ponder.  He put his hand to his chin and cast his eyes upward to the Heavens.  He paced back and forth, obviously trying to determine how best to advise the king.  When suddenly, Wiseman #2 stepped up to the mic and said the line!  Jonathan's line!  Wiseman #2 did not expect acting...he thought Jonathan had forgotten the words and stepped in to save him.

Still, t he show went on and Jonathan was able to say another line (this time, no acting). 

The point of this whole Schpiel?  Well, if you knew my very lawyer husband, you would know that only the love of his children would cause him to risk public humiliation.  And in the end, not only did he and Sofie have a wonderful time together, Jonathan made new friends and garnered much praise for his new acting talent.

Just another example of how our children bring us back into the fold.

Happy Purim!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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