March 2009 News
Click here for Pictures of Purim 2009!
It’s hard to believe the amount of activities that took place and the number who attended events this Purim: Over 2,000 people attended no fewer than 28 different Purim events and programs. What does it say about our community when so many people observe a holiday that features dressing up in costumes and consuming alcoholic beverages? We’ll leave the community psychoanalysis up to you, and just give you a summary of the events:
The JRCC Branches at Rockford, Thornhill Yonge & Clark, Thornhill Woods and Concord each held their own Community Purim Party on the evening of Monday, March 9. In addition to the Megillah readings, masquerades and entertainment at all four events, the Rockford party featured a performance by the Aristov Family Circus, an acclaimed circus troupe from the Moscow Circus.
The JRCC hosted and organized 30 Megillah readings in locations throughout the GTA. Special readings were held for children and the elderly, as well as professionals at or near their place of work, enabling hundreds of people to fulfill the Purim mitzvah of hearing the Megillah read from a scribe-written scroll.
The focus of Purim is to experience unbounded joy – but an important component of that is to spread the joy to others. As such, one of the Purim mitzvahs instituted by Mordechai and Esther is to send gifts of food, known as Mishloach Manot, to friends. In order to bring the Purim holiday spirit to the community at large, the JRCC distributed over 3,000 Mishloach Manot packages to families in the GTA – in addition to the hundreds (if not thousands) of packages exchanged by community members themselves.
One of the highlights of the year is the annual Purim Spiel, in which talented actors from within our community entertain their peers with a hilarious performance. This year’s performance featured a variety of comedic skits and outrageous costumes in the grand Purim tradition of exploring the absurd and poking fun at ourselves and the stereotypes we perpetuate. “Last year’s performance was so funny, I thought, ‘There’s no way they can top that,” reported Lena. “But somehow they just keep getting better. And it makes it so much funnier knowing that it’s your friends up there on the stage behind those crazy costumes.” Those interested in participating in future performances, including both the Purim Spiel and the Chanukah KVN interactive performance, can contact the JRCC at 416.222.7105 x221.
Purim Feast
After almost 24 hours of parties, performances, megillah readings and gift distributions, you would think people had had enough. But, it turns out, those were all just a warmup for the Purim main event: The annual JRCC Purim Banquet. Hundreds of people attended a party unlike any other, where the Purim atmosphere (and some flammable liquids) encouraged participants to let loose and be themselves, as per the Talmudic adage:
“The wine enters, and the secret comes out.” A separate children’s program ensured that everyone was able to experience the celebration in their own way, and the live music, dancing and entertainment kept the festive atmosphere going well into the evening.
Special thanks to all the staff and volunteers who made this year’s Purim truly memorable. It would not be possible without your dedication and hard work, and we thank you on behalf of the entire community and all those who were touched by this incredible show of community togetherness.
