Purim Party for Nice Jewish Queers Returns

Purim is the gayest holiday on the Jewish calendar. It's a night when Jews are encouraged to dress up in their most colorful and outrageous finery.

"There's a saying that every Jewish holiday can be described in nine words: 'They tried to kill us. We won. Let's eat!'", explains Gene Goldstein-Plesser, a nice Jewish gay guy who works with Keshet, a networking and advocacy group for LGBTQ Jews. Purim recalls the story of Esther, who was a nice Jewish girl in Ancient Persia: Esther saved her people from the evil clutches of Haman, an adviser to the king.

"The word Purim means 'lots', because Haman cast lots to decide which day his decree condemning Jews to death would take effect," said Goldstein-Plesser.

He invites you to join Keshet for , an LGBTQ Purim party. The fun commences at 8PM on March 23 at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, San Francisco's LGBTQ synagogue. Prior to the party, there will be a reading of the "Megilla," the story of Purim, at 7PM in the Shaar Zahav sanctuary.

"Traditionally, Purim is the biggest party holiday of the Jewish calendar," said Goldstein-Plesser. "After reading the Megilla, Jews gather for a festive meal that always includes abundant alcohol. Other traditional parts of the holiday include giving food to the poor and eating triangular cookies shaped like Haman's hat; hamantashen."

Those ancient traditions will have a nice queer twist at, which is in its third year.

"It's our biggest party of the year," Goldstein-Plesser said. "It's a chance for gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender or otherwise queer Jews and their friends to gather together and celebrate our craziest holiday."

He explained the meaning of the party's name.

"I think it's catchy," he said. "Schmear is a Yiddish word for a spread, almost always cream cheese, as in a bagel and schmear. Perhaps as partygoers loosen up over the course of the evening, we'll see some gender identities and sexual expressions get a bit schmeared."

It sounds like it's going to be a night to remember. Goldstein-Plesser tells us that legendary lesbian DJ Page Hodel will be spinning from the bimah, which is the pulpit inside Shaar Zahav's sanctuary.
Attendees at a previous Gender Schmear event. photo: Arkansassy

"There will be drag performances by Kylie Minono, host of Mazel Top, the monthly gay Jewish club at Oasis," said Goldstein-Plesser. "We'll have hundreds of fresh gourmet Hamantashan, as well as other vegetarian hor d'eouvres. We'll have a costume box and a photo booth, plus the oppurtunity to schmooze with hundreds of queer Jews from all of the LGBTQ rainbow...and an open bar."

Purim, Goldstein-Plesser assures us, is the Jewish Halloween.

"Lots of Jews take up the opportunity to dress up in costumes, sometimes related to the Purim story, but often not. We always encourage Gender Shmear partygoers to go a step further and dress as a Purim character of a different gender than themselves."

Goldstein-Plesser has always mixed his Judaism and his queerness. He's the guy behind Nice Jewish Boys, a group within Keshet which meets for Shabbat (Sabbath) dinners, happy hours and other activities.
Last year's Gender Schmear was a hoot! photo: Arkansassy

"In the Bay Area, many queer Jews have separate queer friend groups and Jewish friend groups," he said. "We wanted to create a space where no one has to check their Jewish or their queer identity at the door. I've been lucky enough to never have to personally feel a conflict with my gay identity and my Jewish identity, and I'm thrilled to be working with Keshet to help more people feel a connection between their queer and Jewish selves."

Keshet's Gender Schmear, Wednesday March 23 at 8PM, Congregation Shaar Zahav, 290 Dolores. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. www.keshetonline.org