05 March 2007
Jewish leaders in the United States are worried that the holiday of Purim has become an excuse for underage celebrants to drink alcohol. Purim, which is a holiday that celebrates the foiling of a plot to kill Jews in ancient Persia, is often accompanied by drinking as an expression of joy. Purim is celebrated with costume wearing, story telling, games and joyous behavior. However according to a report in the 'Los Angeles Times', there has been growing concern in the past few years at excessive drinking during the holiday. Jewish leaders and groups have called for moderation or suggested that alcohol be removed from Purim entirely. "We are recognizing that with many of the teens who end up with a substance abuse problem, it was on Purim they got their start," Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky of B'nai David-Judea, an Orthodox congregation in Los Angeles, told the newspaper.
