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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.
 
 

   

Tmimim with Israeli Embassy workers and the Perman children
 

Dancing in Los Angeles
 


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