The Berkeley Carroll community recently came together for a joyful cross-divisional celebration as Upper School students from the Jewish Student Union (JSU) visited the second grade Jewish affinity group to share the traditions and stories of Purim.

Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from the plot of the villain Haman. To help bring the story to life, JSU students read and performed scenes from the Purim story for their younger peers, acting out the characters and inviting laughter and excitement from the audience.

Second graders also had the opportunity to join the fun by coming on stage and participating in the storytelling themselves.

Of course, no Purim celebration would be complete without a sweet treat. The Upper School students brought homemade hamantaschen, the traditional triangular-shaped cookies eaten during Purim. The cookies symbolize the hat, ears, or pockets of Haman and are a beloved part of the holiday’s celebrations.

The visit was a wonderful example of Berkeley Carroll’s cross-divisional connections, allowing students to share traditions, learn from one another, and build community across grade levels.

Thank you to our Upper School JSU students for bringing the spirit of Purim to the Lower School.

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