The Great Purim Parcel Project

With more than 3,000 mishloach manor
being arranged for donation and a Lucy and
Ethel-like assembly line of candy, chips and
nuts being packaged, 2-year-old Amichai
Nadiv wanted no part of the co _ loring projects
and crowns set up for the kids. He was there
to work. He carried boxes and pushed a
wheeled cart for other volunteers to load with
goodies wrapped in colorful cellophane.
Volunteers at the 10th annual Purim
Parcel Project, sponsored by the Agency for
Jewish Education of Metropcilitan Detroit's
Jewish Experiences For Families and held at
AJE's Southfield office, combined the newly
created packages with those pre-assembled
in private kitchens, nursery and religious
schools -- and even at a birthday party.
Some helpers were laden with packages and
maps, preparing to make deliveries of the
parcels to New Americans, Shalom Detroit
newcomers and others.
In the midst of what one worker described
as "organized chaos" were packages delivered
from drop-off points at both buildings of the
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit and more than 100 parcels produced
for donation as part of the tzedakah theme of a
Top: Amichai Nadiv, 2, helps move the
bat mitzvah the night before.
finished packages, to the delivoy area.
And what was Amichai doing? As parcels
began to overflow on the tables, his mom,
Above; Pavel Blinderman, 9, helps
package parcels with his sister
Shelley called out, "It's time to get another
Sphetlana, /3, and their father Igor.
box." He ran off with a banana, half in his
hand and half on his face, happily following
the instruction without ever realizing the importance
of his mitzvah.

3/5

1999

14 Detroit Jewish News

The holichty °Purim is celebrated on the
14th day o A ar, coinciding- this year with
Monday. March 1. It is observed in com-
memoration of the victory of the Jews over
their enemies in Shushan, Persia.
Four mitzvot are commanded of the Jewish
people on Purim. They include the hearing: of
Megillat Paha; the recounting of the Purim
story; mishloach manor, the sending ofa gifi
gat least two foodc to a friend. matanot
Pevyonini, giving aims to the poor and seudat
Purim, partaking in a _festive Purim meal
During the reading of the n2egillah, it is cus-
toy
mar to d rown out the time of- 'Haman
with gro,gers:, or noisemakers, each time it is
read Wan2antashen, pastries shaped to look
like Haman's three-cornered hat, are tradi-
tionally eaten. Children as well as adults
dress up in masks and costumes, often repre-
senting the keyfigures in the Purim story

SHELIA DORFMAN Editori Assistvnt

KRISTA HUSA. and BILL HANSEN Photographers