News and Updates from the Community

Dear Friends:

Purim is THIS Wednesday night! The Committee for Purim Dysfunction would therefore like to take this opportunity to give you some sense of the schedule, as well as various volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

Ta'anit Esther: Wednesday, February 28 - The fast begins at 5:11 AM and generally concludes at 6:16 PM. Of course, the force of law is (barely) Rabbinic, so the fast may be broken at Sunset (5:46 PM) should you experience discomfort. We will daven Mincha together at 5:20 PM.

Purim begins on Wednesday night, February 28.  Maariv will begin at 6:30 PM, with Megilla shortly thereafter. Immediately following our services, the entire congregation is invited to join us for our Purim Celebration. We look forward to our friends from the University of Purim joining us at approximately 9:00 PM. The party will end at some point before morning services.

The theme for Purim this year is Bar Mitzvah. Do with this what you wish.

We will return on Thursday morning for Shacharit at 7:30 AM, with Megilla at 8:00 AM. 

Matanot LaEvyonim: Gifts to the poor is arguably the most important Mitzvah of Purim. In addition to his usual gifting, Rabbi Bellino will partner with Rabbi Zvi Romm of the Bialystoker Synagogue, Rabbi Joe Wolfson of JLIC-NYU and the NYU community, and the Masbia Soup Kitchen Network, in providing gifts to those in the region who truly need our assistance. Please consider generously donating to Rabbi Bellino's Discretionary Fund on the website. Be sure to specify that this donation is for 'R. Bellino Purim Charity'.

Your Help: There's a lot of schlepping, decorating, supervising, drink mixing, and cleaning to be done. Please contact Rabbi Bellino if you can help. We are also in need of bar, beer, and snack sponsors (To be a sponsor of the Purim chaos, please go to the donate page and select the charge type 'Purim Chaos').

Gut Purim!