Sock Puppets Carry On Our Purim Tradition

Thirteen sock puppets (several shown above) accompanied by the deft handling of sisters Rachel and Shaina Lipsy will sustain a Purim tradition on Feb. 25 at Tikvat Israel that had been managed for years by their late mother Karen Lipsy. The show commences at 6:30 p.m. and it will be available through the synagogue’s livestream. Synagogue members can also access the show by our Zoom login.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Lipsy sisters came up with a creative replacement for the usual stick puppet show in the social hall. They asked the puppeteers and voice actors from previous years to create sock puppets for familiar Purim characters. A few crafty congregants also lent a hand in creating these.

Those who previously lent their voices to the in-person show continued to do so or supplied tech support instead, The sisters pulled their dad Barry into helping with impromptu puppet-only rehearsals, and Cantor Helzner, the show’s musical talent, was asked to play an expanded role.

A recording of the puppet show will be posted on the synagogue’s website and Facebook page following Purim.