The local Jewish community will celebrate the holiday of Purim later this month at various celebrations throughout South Florida.
On Feb. 25, the PJ Library of the Jewish Federation of Broward County presents a Purim party from 3-5 p.m. at Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options Children’s Ability Center, 5100 North Nob Hill Road in Sunrise. The event’s activities are catered to PJ Library and PJ Our Way families and friends with children ages 3-10. They include a costume parade and contest, Purim crafts and snacks and character led fun and games. There will also be a decorating and filling of mishloach (gifts of sweets given to others on Purim) bags to donate to JAFCO. Event is $10 per family and they must RSVP by Feb. 19 at jewishbroward.org. Contact Marney Tokar, PJ Library director for the Jewish Federation of Broward County, at 954-252-6948 or at pjlibrary@jewishbrowrd.org for more information.
Tokar said there are two components to this event.
“There’s the fun family engagement part of it, and then there’s also the doing the good deeds aspect of helping out JAFCO,” she noted.
JAFCO development associate Jessica Stein said, “For families who may have never been to the Ability Center before, they can see our facility and let their friends and families know what we do because maybe one of their friends or family members needs services from us.”
Also taking place on Feb. 25 is the first “CommUNITY-Wide Purim Carnival” from noon to 4 p.m. at Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd. in Boca Raton. The event will have rides, carnival games, stories and crafts. Registration is $10 per child with a $50 family maximum in advance and $15 per child with a $60 family maximum at the door. Kosher food and drinks will be available for purchase. The carnival is scheduled to take place come rain or shine. Visit jewishboca.org/purim to register or email michellear@bocafed.org for more information.
“Purim is such a festive holiday, and children look forward to it all year,” said Rabbi Josh Broide, director of the Federation’s Deborah & Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement, in a press release. “With so many partners – Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Chabad and more – collaborating, sharing resources and ruach (spirit), we are able to plan a huge event that will bring us together from all across this vibrant, diverse Jewish community.”
PJ Library in South Palm Beach County will have a tented area at the carnival for their Fun Zone, where families will enjoy Purim-themed games, crafts, stories and a special opportunity to give tzedakah for those less fortunate.
“We look forward to everyone joining us to make masks and groggers (noisemakers), learn about the holiday and join in our big machine count of donations in honor of Purim,” said Elana Ostroff, lPJ Library director in South Palm Beach County, in the press release. “We encourage families in our community to bring their PJ tzedakah boxes, and we invite others to join in this Purim mitzvah and meet new families.”
Chabad of South Broward, 1295 East Hallandale Beach Blvd., is presenting a family Purim event on Feb. 28. The event begins with a Megillah reading at 6:45 p.m. followed by a breaking of the fast and a Purim shpiel at 8 p.m. featuring multi-talented acrobats and entertainers “The Twins From France.” The event includes a masquerade for adults and children with costume prizes. Email chabadsboffice@gmail.com to RSVP or for more information on the event.
Chabad of South Broward’s Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus said the Purim shpiel is “very entertaining, very hilarious and very Purim inspiring.”
The Chabad center is also planning to deliver money and food gifts to needy families in nursing homes, hospitals and schools for the holiday. Visit Chabadsouthbroward.com or call 954-458-1877 for the Chabad center’s Purim programming.
“The key to this program is that the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M Schneerson, taught us that the joy of Purim has to reach some of those who are less fortunate, and even though they are not able to come to a synagogue because of circumstances limiting their mobility or other special unique challenges, we must bring to them the joy of the holiday, wherever they may be,” Tennenhaus said.
The Galbut Family Miami Beach Jewish Community Center, 4221 Pine Tree Dr., will host a Purim carnival on March 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event includes activities such as carnival style games, arts and crafts costume contest and more, one-day membership specials and food and snacks. Tickets are available at mbjcc.org/purim.
Contact nearby Jewish organizations for information on other Purim events taking place throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Purim begins on the evening of Feb. 28 this year.