It was a festive Purim party at the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) last Saturday night! Around 50 people came together for an evening of fun for all ages, celebrating the wacky and joyous Jewish holiday.
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
After fueling up with pizza, it was time for worship led by Amber Levanon Seligson. Then came the highlight – the reading of the Purim story from the megillah scroll! Rabbi Laurie Gold, dressed up like a pirate no less, led the reading. It got rowdy at times, with kids and adults shaking those grogger noisemakers whenever the villain Haman’s name came up.
The story wasn’t just read straight up though. There was a hilarious Purim play mixed in, written by Mickey Rindler and Janet Falk. They took things to a whole new level, calling it “Maestra Esther Heimer” and mashing together the plots of summer blockbusters like Barbie and Oppenheimer!
The audience even got to join in a song with a familiar tune, all about Queen Esther finding her bravery to save the day. The cast was a mix of adults – Emily Kalb, Michal Melamed, Scott Piro, Mickey Rindler, and Charlie Schwartz – along with some awesome teens from the congregation, Tamar and Lucia.
The Purim play had everyone rolling in the aisles with its silly humor and jokes about Roosevelt Island, past and present. It was another winner from the legendary Rindler & Falk team, who’ve been writing these plays for years.
To wrap up the night, there were delicious homemade Hamentaschen pastries, courtesy of the Levanon-Seligson family. Plus, everyone got some Mishloach Manot gifts, thanks to the generosity of RIJC friends and neighbors. Happy Purim!
The RIJC is the oldest, longest-serving, welcoming Jewish organization on the Island. For more information about the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation, please visit www.rijc.org or email Nina Lublin, RIJC President, at ninalublin1@gmail.com
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