Purim in Kharkov has taken place at the circus for 25 years, ever since Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries arrived in this eastern city in Ukraine in 1990. This year, the theme of “Circus on Ice” brought a huge crowd out to the festivities, which served as a welcome respite from the economic and political stress the city and its residents have grappled with for two years now.
Hundreds of men and boys put on tefillin before the circus started, with more than 2,000 mishloach manot (food packages) given out to Jewish individuals and families. Tzedakah boxes were on hand so matanot l’evyonim donations could be made for the poor.
Rabbi Moishe Moskovitz, director of Chabad of Kharkov, spoke of celebrating the Hakhel year—a once-in-seven-years’ occurrence—with Or Avner Day School students presenting a special dance in honor of Jewish unity. Dressed as an Eskimo, Rabbi Levi Raices of Chabad of Kharkov read the Megillah as clowns skated around him, and the cheder and yeshivah boys made raucous noise each time Haman’s name was mentioned. Cantor Yitzchak Halfon sang a special Purim song with his sons.
Monkeys, clowns, bears, sea lions, emus and pelicans performed to Jewish music as the crowd enjoyed a unique performance in the spirit of the holiday.
The festive meal (seudat Purim) in the synagogue was grander than ever for the Hakhel year. To add to the Purim fun, the shul was transformed into a shtetl, where participants were transported to a holiday celebration hundreds of years in the past. And, of course, the children dove into the fun, dressing in all kinds of costumes for some levity, along with their learning.
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