Purim in Berlin: Jewish carnival after fleeing Ukraine | Germany | DW
It is loud and sometimes shrill, colorful and occasionally. Purim is celebrated in the large hall of a hotel in western Berlin. The festival is something like the Jewish carnival – but today there are also thoughtful tones in all the exuberance. Because this is where the orthodox Chabad community in Berlin celebrates with what are now 250 Ukrainian refugees they have taken in. More than half of them are children and young people.
From the bunker to the festival
“This year Purim has a very special reason to be happy and grateful,” Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal told DW. “Where were these children two weeks ago? In the bunker with sirens. Where are they now? Here in Berlin. They are celebrating Purim with the Chabad community. What a wonderful sign.” He almost shouts it out in conversation given the background noise.
Women’s soccer at the Purim party
Because the large hall of the hotel is mainly in the hands of the young guests. Balloons everywhere, colorful decoration. In one corner, a high slide awaits as the main attraction, next to it are table football. There are little cooks and little devils running around, elegantly dressed little dancers and a sorceress, a Harry Potter and a Superman, a little tunnel builder with a protective helmet who is barely five years old.
Knight Keule and Manuel Neuer
A few little boys step into the windowless anteroom, one wears a “Manuel Neuer” jersey and goalkeeper gloves. The Bundesliga soccer club FC Union has provided small goals and balls, and its mascot, the oversized “Ritter Keule”, knows about new fans for the club. At the entrance to the hall there are dressing tables, a photo corner, a table with small gifts. For gifts given to one another are part of the Purim tradition.
Carnival hat and Hebrew Bible: Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal combines both on the Purim festival
So each box comes with a little gift to pass it on. And even the rabbi, who recites the text from the Hebrew Bible appropriate to the Purim festival on stage, wears a colorful carnival hat.
Purim is the happiest and most popular of the festivals of the Jewish year. It commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people from impending annihilation during the Persian diaspora around 2500 years ago, as recorded in the biblical Book of Esther. People dress up, give each other presents, eat special sweets and have a good time.
“Still in Shock”
On the sidelines is Alexander, 30 years old. He came from the Odessa area less than two weeks ago. Now his two children are scurrying about here somewhere in the hall. “We’re all still in shock. We haven’t really settled in yet,” he told DW in Russian. “It’s very difficult to leave all your life behind and maybe not be able to come back.” Berlin is now “a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for us to calm down”.
Purim: Dance and disguise
At some point, Mario Czaja comes into the room, the new CDU general secretary from Berlin. He should say something on the podium. But the 46-year-old quickly realizes that no one waits for long words here. “We are happy that you are here, that you have found a home in these difficult times that we are experiencing in Europe.” He doesn’t say much more, much more could not be understood in laughing and screaming and singing.
“Integration and Jewish Education”
Most of them, Alexander explains, have left relatives behind and are worried. Alexander also still has his parents and other relatives in his former homeland. Does he want to go back sometime? Now he can hardly imagine that “because the trust is gone”. He is now just grateful to be here and to know the children are safe. “I hope that the children will be well integrated into the German community and receive a Jewish education.”
Shortly after their arrival, Federal President Steinmeier (here on the left next to Rabbi Teichtal) visited the children from Odessa
Rabbi Teichtal, who is sometimes on stage and sings, sometimes talks to journalists, took in around 100 children and young people from Odessa with his Chabad congregation two weeks ago, and ten days ago another 120 people, families like Alexander’s, single parents mothers with children. Even Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was there ten days ago to greet the children after their long flight – they were away for several days.
The rabbi now says they are currently “absolutely” supported by the state of Berlin and by many individuals. “And we are grateful for any further support.” Because it needs a lot more help. It’s still a big challenge. “Tonight,” says Teichtal, “150 people are coming from eastern Ukraine again. We are grateful for everything that people can help.”