'Cowboys' and pharaohs inside shelters: Israel's Carnival at war

JerusalemIn the cafeteria of the Austrian Hospice, in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City, the marble tables were almost empty. Normally, for Purim, the holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people from ancient Persia, the streets would be filled with families, costumed children, and curious tourists. But this year there was a mixture of silence and tension stemming from the war with Iran.

At one of the tables, a group of young people with colorful wigs, extravagant hats, and glitter were trying to keep the festive spirit alive. One of them, wearing enormous sunglasses and a clown nose, was drinking coffee as if it were any other morning. "We're going to a party at a friend's apartment in a little while," commented Nadia, a young American woman who has been living in the Holy City for three years.

At one of the few occupied tables, two mothers dressed as mushrooms watched their two daughters, made up as cats, play with masks. "We've tried not to make the girls notice it too much," said Yael, mother of little Karim. "There aren't the big celebrations of every year, but we still celebrate. Perhaps with more restraint, but Purim is Purim."

In Israel, this festival is a spectacle that lasts for days and spreads throughout the country. The so-called AdloyadesHuge parades of floats usually fill the avenues of big cities, while teenagers stroll around in group costumes drinking alcohol and bars organize themed parties.

However, this year the military offensive against Iran has forced the cancellation of almost all public events. In many schools, the celebrations have moved online: students have dressed up in front of the camera and made holiday-related crafts from home.

"I don't remember any Purim during a war. This is a first," said Yonatan, a 20-year-old waiter, at one of the impromptu parties in his apartment building in the Talpiot neighborhood of southern West Jerusalem. "Even though public celebrations have been canceled, people are still inviting friends over. My neighbors are throwing open parties in their apartments."

For him, the atmosphere is different, but everyone has found a way to celebrate. within a regional context you haveA few days after the end of the party, Israeli attacks have left more than 1,330 dead in Iran and almost 400 in Lebanon, while the offensive on Gaza continues.

And will survive

The celebrations also filled public shelters. In a shelter in the Jewish quarter of Nachlaot, the scene was almost surreal. A man dressed as cowboy He was hugging a friend dressed as a Pokémon. A boy in a Buzz Lightyear costume, the astronaut from the cartoon movie. Toy StoryHe ran among adults dressed as sailors, police officers, nurses, superheroes, and animals with plush ears. When the alarm sounded, people seemed to ignore it and kept dancing with whatever they had in their hands: glasses of beer, cocktails, or bottles of wine. An impromptu DJ played music from his phone while a dozen people linked arms and spun in a circle. The party went on. So did the military offensive.

"War is surreal, but we want to celebrate our holiday," said Shimon, a 25-year-old dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh. "Purim is about keeping the Israeli spirit alive."

During Purim, from March 2nd to 4th, videos of packed public shelters filled with young people and families dancing went viral on social media. Many of them were singing the classic disco song. And Will SurviveOutside, anti-aircraft defenses intercepted missiles.

For many Israelis, the parallel between the biblical story of Purim and the current conflict with Iran holds a clear symbolism. "It's scary, yes. But we also think we must keep living," summarized Karla, a 27-year-old student celebrating the holiday with friends at the same shelter in West Jerusalem. "Purim speaks of a time when the Jewish people were threatened and survived." Her partner, Ariel, sees it as a kind of historical parallel. "Purim recalls when the Persian Empire tried to destroy the Jews and failed. Now we have Iranian missiles flying over the country. Israel will emerge victorious again."

In the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, where many Jewish families maintain the strictest traditions, the streets were indeed filled with families and music; nothing would have suggested that the country is at war on several fronts in the Middle East. Buses full of families from other neighborhoods and children dressed as princes and princesses passed among adults in black hats and long coats.

Some young people opted for satirical costumes: one walked around in a robe and a fake beard representing an ayatollah; others were dressed as Arabs and some wore the Palestinian keffiyeh as a mockery. Chag Purim sameach"Happy Purim!" shouted a visibly drunk young man as he walked by with a group of friends.