Festive Celebration Pays Tribute to Jewish Victory

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Jewish community members here were able to celebrate Purim in Israel Friday without even stepping onto a plane.

The Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe transformed a portion of the Forsgate Country Club to bring a taste of Israel to their lively Purim celebration.

“Purim is the most joyous holiday of the year,” Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky said. “It’s the victory of the Jewish people against the king of Persia and the regime of that time.”

The joy was tangible. Costumed children waved Israeli flags and took part in activities that represented various regions of Israel. Adults – some from the Chabad Jewish Center and others from as far away as Canada, England and Uruguay – came together in the spirit of community and festivity.

“We reached out to everyone from the entire community,” Zaklikovsky said.

Four integral mitzvot, or commandments, of Purim are the reading of the Megillah; giving money to the poor; bestowing gifts of food to two people; and partaking in a celebratory feast.

Tzvi Altein, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, came to help with the event and provide a Hebrew reading of the Megillah, which tells a story from more than 2,400 years ago. Though his oration seemed to approach lightning speeds, listeners were able to read along in English. Chanie Zaklikovsky, the rabbi’s wife, provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Megillah text, complete with photographs of children depicting the figures involved in the holiday’s historic origins.

Though the crowd in attendance remained quiet during most of the Megillah reading, they did become raucous a number of times. As part of Purim tradition, each time the name of Haman, the prime minister to the Persian king who plotted the killing of Jews, is mentioned, it must be drowned out with loud noises. Noisemakers called graggers are used to this end, along with hooting and hollering from celebrants.

When Altein finished the reading, which culminates in the triumph of the Jewish people, another mitzvah was in order – the feast. Traditional dishes like falafel, babaganush, chumus and shawarma were presented in “Tel Aviv.” Just a few steps away in “Yafo,” freshsqueezed orange juice paid homage to the orchards of Israel.

In other regions, children were able to have some fun and indulge their sweet tooth while honoring their heritage. They created beeswax Havdalah candles in “Safed,” an Israeli city known for its artisans and candle-making. In the “Negev Desert,” kids snacked on edible sand art creations.

Andrew and Matthew Berger, ages 8 and 4, respectively, tried their hand at candle making before joining their grandparents for a bite to eat. The boys call Livingston home, but their East Brunswick grandparents thought the event was not to be missed.

“We felt it would be a fun event for our grandchildren to attend,” Ronald Berger said.

The colorful costumes alone seemed to make it worthwhile for the children. A police officer mingled with martial artists, while princesses paraded with a crayon and a superhero. Even Rabbi Zaklikovsky joined in the fun, donning a sequined Uncle Sam top hat.

“We have masks and costumes to kind of conceal our identity,” Zaklikovsky said.

The practice goes along with the theme of mistaken and concealed identity in the Megillah.

At the “Kotel,” or “Western Wall,” some posed for photographs in front of the painted likeness of the holy landmark. Monroe resident Harold Haft enjoyed the revisiting of a spiritual commandment there.

With the help of Mendel Shemtov, a Uruguay native attending rabbinical college in Morristown, Haft donned the teffilin. Made up of two leather boxes containing scrolls from the Torah, the teffilin are secured to one’s left arm parallel to the heart, and to the head between one’s eyes.

“The point is to connect our feelings and thoughts, and eventually our actions will be the way God wants,” Shemtov said.

Shemtov, along with Altein and Levi Weinstein of Manchester, England, helped with various aspects of the event. In fulfilling the mitvot of Purim, they distributed hundreds of food baskets and visited senior centers to give readings of the Megillah, Chanie Zaklikovsky said.

According to the rabbi, money given to the poor is typically given directly to individuals in need, so that they can celebrate Purim with the gifts.

He said Forsgate Country Club, on Forsgate Drive, was chosen because of its history in the area, and the theme of Israel arose out of the country’s 60th anniversary of independence, as well as a gesture of support.

“Israel needs our solidarity at this time,” Zaklikovsky said.