Purim 5781 - The Pictorial Megillah

Get ready for one of the most creative and memorable Megillah readings yet!

Our virtual Megillah reading will be accompanied by a pictorial slideshow of Shearith Israelites "performing" the Book of Esther in photographs. These photographs will be staged “tableaux” or “freeze frames” of key moments in the Purim story. Families will costume themselves, find appropriate props, and stage the action to match the moment. Once you’ve created the tableau, take a digital photo and send it back to us. Even an iPhone picture will do.

We need YOU to participate and submit photographs of yourself and/or your family acting out one of the Purim story's countless scenes and vignettes! View the available scenes and instructions below. 

Get ready to lighten and brighten this heavy season with yet another unprecedented communal experience and the refreshing playfulness of Purim at CSI.

Update (2/17/21): Thank you to all who have submitted photos for the slideshow! We are currently in need of the following crucial moments/scenes to be portrayed:

19, 20, 27, 33  

Megillah Mugshots - Scenes & Descriptions

Submit Photo(s) Here

Instructions

We have separated Megillat Esther into 42 "action moments" which are meant to be the caption describing the content of the photograph. A full list of available scenes may be viewed here. Review the list of plot points and decide on an image in the story that you would like to capture. The caption is the moment you have to illustrate with your personal or family photograph.

We would LOVE for you to get CREATIVE with your photographs. We think it's going to be really fun to see multiple interpretations of each scene as we tell the story of Esther on Purim. To help bring consistency to the multiple interpretations, we're asking everyone to follow a few guidelines in your representations.  

Accessories / Representations

CSI has purchased a number of props to help you represent the different characters. You may pick up the appropriate accessories from the CSI office to depict the "scene" you select. Or, you can make your own props! The following items may be picked up and returned to the shul. Call or email the office to make arrangements (404.873.1743 / reception@shearithisrael.com) or come by during business hours to get:  

1. A CROWN 
2. A BEARD
3. FINGER MUSTACHES
4. PICTURE OF GALLOWS (representing Haman's wife)
5. NAME TAGS (for King's Advisors)

Please use these as guides - but also feel free to get creative. As long as we can clearly identify the different characters, the story will be fun to see. 

• King Ahashuerus – Crown
• Queen Vashti – All Vashtis should have their own blonde hair/wig and can receive a crown to wear
• Mordecai – All Mordecais will receive a beard to wear
• Esther/Queen Esther – All Esthers should have their own brown hair/wig and can receive a crown to wear (dependent upon which whether the photo portrays Esther before becoming Queen or after)
• Haman – a finger mustache tattoo to “wear” in their pictures (Triangular hats can be created at home for further ease of identification)  You can also just use a marker!
• Haman’s wife – an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper that has gallows on it.
• King’s Advisors – Name tags saying “King’s Crew”, “King A’s Team” or "King's A Team" 

Megillah Mugshots - Scenes & Descriptions