Clowning around for Purim were: (l to r) Adam Frank, Daniel Wolfeiler, Leah Herde, Rachel Goodman, Bari Lipper, Shayna Gruder, Emily Bowman.

Rabbi Marcelo Kormis of Congregation Beth El Fairfield and Rabbi Daniel Victor of neighboring Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Bridgeport decided it would be even more joyous and special for their congregants to celebrate Purim together. And celebrate they did, as several hundred congregants from both synagogues joined together for a weekend of partying. The fun began with a festive Purim dinner, costume parade and megillah reading at Beth El on Saturday night, followed by a fun Purim carnival at Rodeph Sholom on Sunday – at which kids were made up like clowns and a professional clown stopped by to give kids lessons in how to ‘clown around.’ The newly minted clowns then headed over to the Jewish Home for the Elderly to entertain residents.