Pirates, butterflies and even Bart Simpson showed up to Hillel's Purim party Saturday night in Levin Ballroom. The holiday, as recounted by the Hillel Theater Group, commemorates the story of how Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia in the sixth century B.C. To celebrate Purim, the Brandeis Orthodox Organization (BOO), Brandeis University Conservative Organization (BUCO) and Brandeis Reform Chavurah (BaRuCh) joined together to sponsor the party in a strong show of unity from Hillel's three main religious clubs. Blue Fringe, a Jewish rock group from New York, returned again this year to provide live musical entertainment for the night's party. The band had the packed crowd in Levin on their feet dancing the entire evening, showing why the Purim Party is one of Hillel's most popular events year after year. BOO, BUCO and BaRuCh went all out for the Purim Party, decorating Levin with massive amounts of colorful balloons and streamers. Tables were piled with delicious food, ranging from kosher pizza bagels and miniature potato knishes to traditional Purim hamentashen cookies.
Students also put an equal amount of effort into their costumes. Outfits ranged from traditional princess Esther dresses to the Pillsbury Dough Boy. One devoted Brandeis student even dressed as University President Jehuda Reinharz. Hillel staged a costume contest halfway through the party, which was judged by members of the Union Senate.

The top prize of a DVD player went to Yoni Goodman '05 and Jon Waldstreicher '05 who dressed up and acted out Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's infamous performance at the Super Bowl a few months ago. Michelle Greenfield '05, Alan Tannenwald '05, Sarah Singer '06 and Philip Weintraub '06 came in second as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and a group of klezmer rabbis with their black, brimmed hats lit on fire took third place.

Hillel separated males and females with a balloon mechitzah, or curtain, and offered mixed dancing in upstairs Levin. However, the energetic sounds of Blue Fringe kept the crowd on both levels moving the entire night, playing music that included Radiohead and current hits like OutKast's "Hey Ya." The group also had students dancing the hora to classic Israeli tunes, such as "David Melech." Blue Fringe also played new music off their latest album, My Awakening. Their clever songs and spoofs, which mixed Hebrew and English lyrics, were incredibly well received by those both new and familiar to the group's music.