Defiant Laughter: An Evening of Soviet Jewish Purim Spiels

Join us for a staged reading of archival Purim spiel scripts shared within Soviet Jewish communities, performed in newly translated English. These witty, subversive works were originally passed hand-to-hand and performed in private apartments, where Jewish life continued behind closed doors.

Purim is a holiday celebrating survival and the triumph over oppression, traditionally marked by humor, costumes, and spirited storytelling. In the USSR, that spirit took on deeper meaning, as communities preserved tradition through intimate, often improvised performances in living rooms.

These spiels reflect that world—blending satire, history, and quiet resistance. Open to all audiences, this event offers a unique chance to experience both the joy of Purim and the resilience of cultural life under constraint.

As the museum will be closed during this program, please enter through the garden side gate, which will open 30 minutes before the start time. Theater doors open 15 minutes before the start time. Seating is first come, first served. An RSVP does not guarantee admission once capacity is reached. No late entry.

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Host or Publisher The Wende Museum