'N.}
ri
Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center, "Jewish peo-
ple are very opinionated people and it's hard to get
us together. But there were two times in history —
only two times — when we had total unanimity.
One, the giving of Torah, and one, during this
period of Purim."
Amid all the costumes, groggers and pageantry of
celebrating the defeat of Haman, it may be over-
looked that the giving of mishloach manot (some-
times called shalach manos) and matanot l'evyonim
are as essential to the holiday as hearing the Megillat
Esther or enjoying the seuda (festive meal).
For Purim, many Jewish families make up their
own packages of goodies and send them to friends
and Jews who may be lonely. If the families are per-
sonally aware of needy people, they can provide
financial help directly.
But there are also many organizations and syna-
gogues in this community that offer programs to
help Jews fulfill the Purim mitzvot.
Among the best known is the Great Purim Parcel
Project. In its 14th year, it is offering a fun family
twist this year — a feverish Saturday night scramble
to assemble most of the 2,500 mishloach manot
treat parcels that will be sent to residents of senior
facilities and clients of Jewish aid agencies.
The parcel assembling party usually is held on a
Sunday. This year it will be 7:45-10 p.m. Saturday,
March 18, at the Max M. Fisher Federation
Building, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield
Township. Making it a Havdala evening happening
will free up families wanting to attend Debbie
Friedman's Jewish music concert Sunday afternoon
at the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield. (School and youth groups are assem-
bling other parcels in advance.)
Another force of volunteers will work 10 a.m.-1
p.m. Sunday to distribute the treats around town,
departing from the Federation building location. A big
allotment will go to Yad. Ezra, the kosher food pantry
in Oak Park. Others will be delivered to senior resi-
dences and apartments as well as Kosher Meals on
Wheels and other social-service organizations.
The Great Purim Parcel Project is put on by
Jewish Experiences for Families (JEFF), a division of
the Agency for Jewish Education. The Jewish News
and Kroger are event sponsors.
"People can just drop in and it's free," said Alissa
Pianin of JEFF. "We're encouraging people to come
in costume. Children of all ages are welcome."
Above: Mackenzie Tarockoff; 4, of Novi and
Talya Nevins, 5, of Farmington Hills stuff
candy into packages on March 8 at Adat
Shalom Nursery School as the early brigade of
the Great Purim Parcel Project.
Opposite page: In a Detroit-style assembly line,
5-year-old students of Phyllis Kohn and Debbie
Rosenberg at Adat Shalom Nursery School fill
mishloach manot parcels for the JEFF project.
_All from West Bloomfield, unless otherwise
noted, are: Leah Cohen, Sean King, Ethan
Grier (partially obscured), Alana Lieberman,
Jace Gittleman, Jaclyn Nagel of Farmington
Hills, Rachel Hollander, Daniel Lipsky, and
Mitchell Schwartz of Farmington Hills.
SHET LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
A nd zither
What some of the
best-dressed rabbis
and cantors are
wearing this Purim.
C
ln
NM. •Irt1111.:111
• •
ome the 15th day of Adar
(Monday, March 20), festive
costumes will be donned by
Jews worldwide as the merriment of
the three-day holiday of Purim begins.
But not all of those who come to
synagogue dressed as Big Bird, Barney
and Elmo will be youngsters. That
tradition has crossed the line to teens,
adults — even the clergy.
• -4-
`I
Many synagogues also will assemble Purim
parcels.
For instance, at Temple Shir Shalom's Purim car-
nival on Sunday, March 19, there will be a station
for making parcel plates.
"It's a great thing. Alongside playing games and
the silliness... we have to use our joy as a vehicle to
help other people," said Rabbi Michael Moskowitz.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek has its own
mishloach manor project where students will fill
prior orders and deliver the food parcels.
Yad Ezra is the focus of mitzvot for Purim. The
kosher food pantry distributes a JEFF parcel to each
of its 1,000 client families, according to develop-
ment director Lea Luger. People also like to con-
tribute to the organization at Purim time.
Many Jews make special contributions to other
charities, often at a synagogue megilla reading or
carnival. All synagogues have ongoing programs
throughout the year to aid the poor.
Adat Shalom Synagogue has a maot chitim cam-
paign to provide Passover food funds to the needy. It
is begun before Purim as a combined charity effort,
said Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek's religious school is
conducting a food drive and its United Synagogue
Youth group will donate proceeds from its March 26
carnival to Tikkun Olam, a USY charity.
Temple Beth El has ongoing charity programs and
will present a Purim shpiel to entertain Sunday, March
19, at the Fleischman Residence in West Bloomfield
and again at the temple on the following night.
Rabbi Ernst Conrad of Temple Kol Ami recom-
mends Purim contributions to MAZON: A Jewish
Response to Hunger, a national organization, as well
as to Yad Ezra.
Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center provides
plates for donations during the megilla readings. For
Purim, "I'll be giving to different organizations in
Israel and I'll also be distributing to poor people
here that I know," said Rabbi Silberberg.
Special programs also exist to give financial aid
directly to the needy. Matan B'Seter (gifts in hiding)
of Detroit is a 10-year-old year-round charity set up
for handling emergencies. The fund assists Jews who
PEOPLE WHO NEED PURIM on page 10
Once the holiday of
kings, queens and villains
in three-cornered hats,
Purim gromer-twirlers,
including rabbis and can-
tors, now can be seen in
more modern-day costume.
Disguising one's identity
with costumes and masks
is an important aspect of
Purim, with various possi-
ble origins. Esther's concealment of her
BEYOND MORDECHAI on page 10
Rabbi Leonardo Bitran as Big Bird
visits a Shaarey Zedek nursery school
classroom during a past Purim.
3/17
2000
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