Chabad hosts Purim in the Village

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2009-03-15T00:00:00

Thirty years ago, Yosef Simpson took a bus down from Seattle where he was studying in yeshivah and organized the first Portland community-wide Purim party at the request of Rabbi Sholom Levitin of Chabad of the Northwest, who said Portland had no community-wide party at that time.
In 1984 when Chabad of Oregon was established, Rabbi Moshe and Devora Wilhelm continued the tradition of holding a Purim party for the Portland community.

Rabbi Wilhelm says he is very pleased that today many of the local synagogues hold Purim parties open to the community.

“Our mission is to bring the joy of Judaism to the community,” he said, adding that he feels that the Purim parties all around town have achieved that goal.

Chabad centers in Oregon will host Purim events in Bend, Eugene, Hillsboro, Southern Oregon and Southwest Washington. Chabad at Portland Campuses will hold a special Purim celebration for students.

To allow members of the community to attend both their synagogue’s Purim party and the community party, Chabad has changed the time of the community party, from the eve of Purim to 5 p.m. on Purim day.

This year’s party is themed “Purim in the Village” since it will be in Multnomah Village. It will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at 5 p.m. at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. There will be a Shtetl-style dinner, farm animals for children, Yiddish dancing and a chance to meet Tevye and his family. A special Megillah reading will take place at 5:15 pm.

Cost is $8 per adult and $5 per child, advance reservations. RSVP: www.Cha­badOregon.com.