At S.F. Megillah reading, congregants asked to please turn cellphones on

Rabbis usually bristle when they see people fiddling with their cellphones in synagogue, but that won’t be the case at this year’s Megillah reading at Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco.

For “Megillat Texter and Purim Party,” people are being encouraged to bring their cellphones into the synagogue. Trivia and poll questions will be projected onto a screen during the Megillah reading, and congregants will text their answers.

Those texts will appear on-screen using a technology called Poll Everywhere. Afterward, a party will feature Purim cocktails, finger foods and, of course, hamantaschen.

The event will be held from 6:45 to

9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. It is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Beth Sholom is located at

301-14th Ave. For information, visit http://www.bethsholomsf.org.