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Communities, charities and schools celebrate Purim in style
PHOTOS: COURTESY •LAWRENCE PURCELL. • HENRY JACOBS
BY DAVID SAFFER
Jewish communities, charities and schools celebrated Purim in style this year with a host of fun activities. Camp Simcha spielers were out in force in North London led by their mascot Simi the Monkey. The charity sent 800 hamantaschen to staff at Great Ormond Hospital as part of their hospital outreach and Jewish awareness raising activities, as well as Purim arts and crafts for children on the wards. Children from Camp Simcha’s B’nei Mitzvah programme also packed Mishloach Manot which were delivered to families the charity supports. Ohel David Sephardi Synagogue held its first Purim party for two years. Thirty people across Essex attended a Megilla reading with festive food and drink. Chazan Shimon Tivoni said, “Our community offers a Jewish experience like no other in Essex. When people visit us for the first time, they say it is like being transported to another part of the world, like being in a synagogue in Jerusalem, Cairo or Baghdad. We offer a warm welcome to both new and familiar faces.” Sacks Morasha pupils undertook a challenge this Purim with the Megillah being read by pupils. Over the years the school has had regular participation from boys and girls who have read sections but this year there are sufficient participants to read the whole Megillah. Under the guidance and teaching of Rebbetzen Mandy Lawrence of Kinloss Synagogue, more children in key stage 2 have been eager to join the Megillah club and children with previous experience took on more Pasukim. Rebettzen Lawrence gifted each child a specially crafted ‘Yad’ to read their section. Head of Kodesh and Deputy Head, Justin Kett, said, “Purim at Sacks Morasha is not just about the creative and wacky costumes, it is about the level of engagement and connection they have to the Chag. Learning a skill, such as leining the Megillah, is something
they will take with them once they leave to go onto secondary school and beyond. We know that some of our alumni have been instrumental in creating and leading a Megillah reading at Haberdashers Girls school.” There was no stopping people Norwood supports and staff celebrating Purim this year. From hearing the megillah to receiving Mishloach Manot donated by the United Synagogue, waving greggers, wearing masks and enjoying hamntaschen generously donated by Kosher Kingdom, Daniel’s Bakery and Just Kosher. The highlight of Purim festivities was a virtual party with dancing to the tunes of DJ Dan Kraines. Kisharon hit the streets for its 2022 Purim Bucket Collection Challenge. The charity asked supporters to take part to ‘Make a Change’ to people it supports. Around 110 buckets went out across 60 individuals, shuls and services within Kisharon. Holland Park Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue and Leeds JSoc also supported the charity. Collectors were out making a ‘change’ and Kisharon gave out prizes for the collector who raised the most in a particularly creative way and with the most original costume. Each student learnt about the megilla in an easy read form together with the laws and customs of Purim. They also tied it into ways we can give to people in Ukraine. Students helped Social Enterprise in a remarkable Purim pack putting together 1800 gift bags. Kisharon College were busier than ever preparing for Purim working on a joint project providing children in Jewish Primary schools in north London with Mishloach Manot gift bags for the festival. This is the first project students have completed in partnership with local primary schools including Sinai, Etz Chaim, Alma Primary and Rimon Primary. Students packed gifts for communities hosting Purim parties at Cheder and other communal events. And they joined in with Pick It! Pack It! Gift It! Project at Kisharon Gift & Homeware Store, Equal.
THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
24 MARCH 2022
