This Purim saw our synagogues and community buildings once more jam-packed for a series of celebratory events.

See below the best pictures and stories from Purim 5785. If your community is missing, please email your picture to SimonR@progressivejudaism.org.uk so we can add them.

North West Surrey Synagogue families joyfully celebrated Purim with a variety of festive activities, including face painting. The celebration featured a lively reading of the Megillah, enhanced by an entertaining spiel.

York Liberal Jewish Community held a ‘Purim in Austria’ event in the city’s Church of English Martyrs. The fun service, based on the Sound of Music, was a brilliant example of interfaith engagement with the full participation of the nuns from the local convent.

Kingston Liberal Synagogue had three celebrations: a drag bingo night with cocktails for the grown-ups; a Purimshpiel and carnival party led by the Kabbalat Torah class for the families; and a Friday night study of Liberal objections to the Megillah for people who don’t like Purim.

Kol Chai Reform Jewish Community in Hatch End had a brilliant and very noisy intergenerational evening with a Wicked-themed Purim pizza party, which included making Michloach Manot (gift bags) for its older members unable to attend.

East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue put on a Megillah reading in six different languages, a costume competition and a Star Wars themed spiel entitled Return of the Jewdi.

Sinai Synagogue Leeds ran two events: an all-ages Purim Spiel and Megillah reading with fish and chips, followed three days later by a Kids Purim Carnival with a Circus theme attended by more than 130 guests.

Finchley Progressive Synagogue had a wonderful spiel woven around an intergenerational Shabbat service. It featured brilliant storytelling, 1960s melodies and rewritten Beatles songs. Barechu to Hey Jude!

Wimbledon Synagogue welcomed a whole load of new members on Erev Purim – to enjoy pizza, soup and hamantaschen – including two minions, three bees and a banana.

Norwich Liberal Jewish Community turned death and destruction on its head with a Purim spiel full of laughter and merriment – where Queen Esther refuses a passive role and instead uses her agency to change her world.

Finchley Reform Synagogue had a carnival on Sunday with over 300 people, a Wicked themed spiel and evening service and study option geared towards those who felt festivities were too hard right now.

The South London Liberal Synagogue read the whole megillah in English on the Thursday night and extended the festival to Shabbat for the younger children – including Baby Esther, who is pictured complete with hamantaschen.

Newcastle Reform Synagogue enjoyed two Purim events this year – a study session and Megillah reading on Thursday, and then a Friday night family party with pre-Shabbat Israeli dancing, led by a member who had previously been in a dance troupe in the Israeli army.

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue put on a Purim spiel ‘loosely’ based on Austin Powers called Mordy Powers – Jewish Man of Mystery… and somehow wove the 60 year history of the community in at the same time.

Harlow Jewish Community had more than 40 adults and children come to hear the Megillah read on Purim, followed by hamantaschen and party games including musical chairs.

Sha’arei Tsedek: North London Reform Synagogue sang Purim themed Queen songs, read the megillah, recited the poetry of the B’nei Mitzvah class, and enjoyed a bring and share supper full of delicious food and a mini bar.

Seven Hills Shul’s yearly Purim party hamantaschen making, mask painting, a party Klezmer band and a spiel with the alternative ending of a positive peace building vision, from the Shalom Project, of what might have happened had all the weapons turned into pogo sticks and the enemies become anemones.

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree had a fabulous evening celebrating Purim, a spiel with songs to the tunes from Grease – followed by hamantaschen with a drink of wine and whisky and juice.

Sha’arei Shalom: North Manchester Reform Synagogue enjoyed a fun and very noisy Purim party and Megillah reading.

Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue saw members of all ages, including its young educators and cheder helpers, come together for a Megillah reading with the with the Rome nusach (liturgy).

Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation (Neve Shalom) raised the roof with raucous responses to a dramatised Megillah reading led by Dumbledore, with Pippi Mordechai and a Pharaonic Haman; followed by a sumptuous feast.

Glasgow Reform Synagogue read a modern take on the megillah and sang Purim themed songs, all followed by a chavurah supper for around 30 people.

Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue‘s Purim celebrations started with nosh and drinks, before a Megillah reading and Purim Spiel performance of Oy!Liver! that would have impressed Dickens himself.

Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue held four days’ worth of special events, including a Wicked Purim Party in the land of Oz for all the family, and a flavoured vodka cookalong.

North Herts Progressive Jewish Community (Radlett Reform Synagogue and Stevenage Liberal Synagogue) had a very successful karaoke Megillah to the tunes of Queen.

Radlett Reform Synagogue’s celebrations began with over 100 people enjoying Purim pandemonium and family fun with pizza, ice cream sundaes and a lively family megillah reading. Later in the evening a brilliant ‘Megillah on the Roof’ karaoke retold the Book of Esther through original new lyrics to musical favourites.

RSY-Netzer Movement Workers Carrie, Katie, and Josh dressed up as the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 as part of the Reform youth movement’s Purim’s festivities.

Leo Baeck College’s faculty, staff and student rabbis got into the festive spirit with a selection of wonderful and varied costumes worn in classes throughout the day of Purim.

Alyth had a celebration from morning until night, starting with the reading of the Megillah on Thursday evening, followed by a Purim Baby Den on Friday morning, a family tea with a Wicked Megillah, fancy dress and much more.

Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation held their annual Purim party – including a lovely and very funny performance by its young members, telling the story of how the Jewish people were saved from annihilation.