Uncle Sam meets Uncle Mordechai.
SHARON LUCKERMAN Staff Writer
BILL HANSEN Photographer
his year, the Shul-Chabad
Lubavitch in West Bloomfield
celebrated Purim with an
American theme. On the
evening of Feb. 25, "Uncle Sam" read the
Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther), as 170
kids and adults dressed in American- and
Purim-Chemed costumes listened to the
story of Queen Esther and her Uncle (or
some say cousin) Mordechai and shook
their noisemakers at the sound of Haman's
hated name.
The holiday commemorates the Persian
Jews' survival from Haman's plot to kill
them more than 2,000 years ago. Esther
and Mordechai persuaded King Ahasuerus
to intervene on behalf of the exiled Jews.
Amidst red, white and blue balloons and
decor, the Shul served all-American foods
like hot dogs, Buffalo wings, submarine
sandwiches, apple pie, brownies and make-
your-own pareve ice cream sundaes.
"There was singing and dancing and
everyone had a blast, said Itty Shemtov,
who directs the Shul with her husband,
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov.
The celebrants played 'Who Wants to be
a Mitzvahnaire' and a 12-speed mountain
bike was won by 11-year-old Esther Klein
of Southfield in a raffle.
The most exciting project launched dur-
ing the Purim celebration, Itty Shemtov
said, was the national Psalm Pilot Project,
which encourages people to register to read
a psalm every day for the welfare of a par-
ticular American or Israeli soldier. Forty
people signed up that evening.
Like the community Purim celebration,
the Psalm project really touches people,
she said. r1
Clockwise from top right: Mendel Shemtov, 8,
ofWest Bloomfield relishes his disguise.
Feeling a little green, Esther Klein, 11, of
Southfield takes a healthy portion of fries. She
really brightens up, though, when she learns she
won the raffle — a 12-speed mountain bike,
while Bill Bolton ofWest Bloomfield scoops lip a
holiday treat.
Dr. Jeffiey Klein, left, of Southfield greets scare-
crow Brian Sable ofWest Bloomfield.
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov helps Chaim Goldstein
of Ann Arbor read the Megillat Esther as a
video version is projected behind them.
Jacob Schwartz, 9, ofWest Bloomfield rocks at
the Shul's patriotic Purim party
Don Apel ofWest Bloomfield encourages an out-
burst of noise at the mention of Hamans name.
Levi Shemtovmounta, 6, ofWest Bloomfield
checks out the raffle's grand prize, a 12-speed
mountain bike.
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