Purim!!!!

We received an email a while ago telling us about the 3 P's (Purim, Passover, and Packing). It is so hard to believe that Purim is now behind us and we are getting ready for our big trip to the Ukraine. The year is flying by!

Purim in Israel was certainly an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately Erin and I were a bit under the weather but we still managed to have a lot of fun. The festivities began at HUC with an absolutely hilarious Maariv service at including the ENTIRE reading of the Megillah. Following the service we headed down to the Moadon for a falafel dinner and purim spiel. The spiel, written and performed entirely by the students, was based on the hit show "Saturday Night Live." I played the Chassidic Ladies Man, giving all sorts of good advice to my callers. Other acts included Celebrity Jeopardy, Night at the Roxbury, The Cheerleader Sketch, Weekend Update, Debbie Friedman Downer, and plenty of crazy commercials. The night ended early for us while our "younger" friends enjoyed a very drunk night out on the town. They take this holiday very seriously here! I am willing to bet that the majority of people in this town could not tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman by the end of the night.

Purim continued throughout the next day and I was able to catch a free Hadag Nachash concert on Hillel Street later in the evening. It was amazing how many people were still out celebrating Purim. Purim concluded yesterday at Mevaseret, the Ethiopian Absorption center (our community service project), in which we gave the kids one last taste of Purim. We played games with the kids, decorated masks and crowns, ate goodies, and performed a play for the kids re-telling the story of Purim.

All in all, this was a great time and we look forward to the next P. Enjoy all the pics below!


Lookin' fly before the Megillah Reading


Our service leaders Josh & Phil


Josh chanting Megillat Esther alongside Eli Schleifer and Ari Plost


Nice costume Steph


Erin with Anna "the riveter"


Mara looking so cute


Schva Na (Emily) and Schva Nach (Jessica) with Missy, who stole Matt's costume idea!


The Chassidic Ladies Man


Celebrity Jeopardy starring Josh as Sima, Dave V. as Dean Marmur, and Dave F. as Moshe Silberstein


Another round starring Phil as Sean Connery, Mara as Naama Kelman, and Jamie as a professor I don't have but sounded funny. Pictured in the orange hat is Miriam, who played Gingy.


Jamie and Josh as the night at the Roxbury Guys, but orthodox trying to convince guys to put on tefillin and Daven on Ben Yehudah Street


The Chassidic ladies man reappeared and got in on the Davening action


Aaron Miller and Mara as the cheerleaders of Reform Liturgy Workshop


Erin with Steph, Mara, and Miriam


Hadag Nachash live on Hillel Street


Maura painting faces


Me with our girls Avtam and Tadila (the children of our family at Mevaseret) They are the cutest!!!