Mivtza
Purim Around The World
Poona,
India
This
is the third year that Purim was properly celebrated in Poona, India. It
is also the third year that Rabbi Betzalel Kupchik, of Matteh Moshiach
in Eretz Yisroel, was the coordinator. This year, however, the Purim
events were part of the work that is done by Beis Chabad of Poona, under
Rabbi Shimshon Goldstein.
A
fabulous Purim party was held at night for 100 Israeli tourists.
Musician Avi Piamenta was a big hit with the crowd. The joy was so great
that many boys returned the next day in order to put on tefillin.
One of the tourists said, “The joy here is worth far more than all the
meditation of Osho.”
Pushkar,
India
A
pair of Tmimim, Shneur Chaviv and Nir Goshen, arranged a Purim party in
northern India, a 30 hour trip by car. Yossi Daniel, who joined them,
had just arrived at the Chabad House in Poona a month ago and is
planning to learn in the yeshiva in Tzfas!
Two
parties took place, one by night and one by day, with 200 tourists in
attendance. The parties were planned well before Purim, so many tourists
knew about it. Some of them even remained in town in order to be able to
attend. E-mail messages were received after Purim with enthusiastic
thanks by tourists and their parents.
Santiago,
Chile
Eight
Tmimim on shlichus in Chile successfully organized the Purim mivtzaim.
A giant Purim party was held for all the children of the Jewish
community. The theme of the evening was how Shushan in Persia had looked
on the very first Purim. Flyers were distributed in the Jewish schools
for the children of Santiago emblazoned with the words “Purim in
Persia,” and the children were asked to dress up as Persians. Persian
food was served at the party and they danced to authentic Persian music.
A
giant royal tent was erected in the yard of the Chabad House, decorated
by the Tmimim and the children of the Perman family, to look like
an ancient Persian palace. A play was performed that portrayed to the
children what the world will be like with the coming of Moshiach. About
500 children and their parents attended the party, which was highly
praised by friends of Chabad in Chile.
One
of the security personnel at the Israeli Embassy commented on the
Megilla reading and Purim cheer: “When you go out on some
diplomatic mission outside Israel, you sometimes forget everything. You
don’t remember the holidays, the family — nothing. This year, the Chabadnikim
reminded me of Purim, and even made sure I would hear the Megilla, drink
and eat oznei Haman.”
At
a farbrengen at the Chabad House, one of the participants
remarked, “For the first time, I understand the difference between the
drinking of l’chaim by Chassidim and the drinking of goyim.
The Chassidim drink a little, slowly — and the most important thing is
that the simcha of the Chabadnikim is completely different
than the wildness of goyim. This year on Purim I learned for the
first time what pure joy is.”
As
a result of the many activities on Purim, new connections were made with
many Jews who don’t regularly visit the Chabad House.
Vienna,
Austria
On
5 Adar, over 300 people came to the Chabad House in Vienna to see
exhibits about the Megilla and the mitzvos of Purim, as
well as to make masks, Megillos and hamantashen. A high-ranking
Israeli diplomat, who visited (together with his children who attend the
Chabad school), expressed his enthusiasm over the hands-on method of
teaching the children and their parents about Purim.
Toronto,
Canada
At
the center for Russian immigrants, run by Rabbi Y.Y. Zaltsman, there was
no time to breathe on Purim and even before. There was so much
preparation to do that the four shluchim had to bring in bachurim
for additional help. Over 100 people heard the Megilla on
Purim night. This was followed by a party for 200 Bukharian Jews.
A
party took place for 300 children and their parents at which Chaim
Fogelman performed, while a separate party for children who attend
public school took place with over 100 children and many parents. 400
people participated in the Purim meal.
Other
Chabad Houses around Toronto organized Purim meals, with over 1,400 Jews
participating.
Utah
200
people participated in a beautiful party at the Chabad House, run by
Rabbi Binyomin Zippel.
Phoenix,
Arizona
Over
400 people packed the Chabad House run by Rabbi Zalman Levertov. After
hearing the Megilla, there was a Purim carnival. The following day, over
150 people participated in the Purim meal.
Philadelphia,
PA
A
number of large Purim meals took place in Philadelphia. The Chabad House
for Israelis, run by Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lipsker, organized a large
Purim party for 150 people. Rabbi Efraim Levin, the shaliach in
the university area, organized a large party for dozens of students.
Ocean
City, MD
Shaliach
Rabbi Noam Cohen, together with a group of Tmimim who came from 770,
turned over the city this Purim. On Purim night, dozens of people
gathered to hear the Megilla. This was followed by a masquerade contest
for all the children of the community, with the Tmimim as judges.
On Purim day, the Tmimim fanned out throughout the city and
informed every Jew they encountered about Purim.
Los
Angeles, CA
Rabbi
Naftali Estulin, who works with Russian immigrants, began working on Mivtza
Purim long before Purim. Dozens of friends of the Chabad House
helped him pack mishloach manos, which were distributed to
thousands of Russian Jews.
A
large party took place at the shul on Purim night with over 400
men, women, and children in attendance.
Shaliach
Rabbi Shalom Ber Rodel related what happened as a result of their Purim farbrengen:
“There is a Jew in our community who is about forty years old, who
came from Russia 24 years ago. We tried to convince him to make a bris,
but to no avail. At first he didn’t even want to hear about it. After
a while he just produced one excuse or another. Before Purim we invited
him as usual to the Purim meal at the Chabad House. He was very moved at
the farbrengen, to the point that he announced that he wanted a bris
the next day!”
In
Manhattan Beach, an exclusive neighborhood, over 500 people celebrated
at a Purim meal with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Mintz.
New
Jersey
Over
400 Russian Jews participated in a festive party held at Bris Avrohom in
Hillside. Over 400 people attended the Megilla reading in
Fairlawn.
Rabbi
Boruch Goodman, shaliach at Rutgers University, organized a party
for students at the campus that was attended by 250 students. On Purim
morning, 80 students came to the minyan and over 175 students
attended the Purim party that afternoon.
Seagate,
N.Y.
350
mishloach manos were distributed by students of Tiferes Menachem
of Seagate. The talmidim also organized two Purim parties – one
at night at the yeshiva and the other at a senior citizen center
the next day. For many of the participants, this was the first time they
were celebrating Purim and hearing the Megilla.
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