Coinciding with the ‘International Woman’s Day’ a public holiday widely celebrated in Ukraine, the Jewish community in Sumy, Ukraine celebrated Purim ‘In The Kitchen’ organized by the local Shluchim Rabbi Yechiel Shlomo and Rochi Levitansky. Instead of spending the day in their homes, more than a hundred men, women and children gathered in the Shul to fulfill the four Mitzvos of Purim.
The Shul was decorated with decorative pots, pans and kitchen utensils a commercial kitchen table substituting the Bima and mini decorative ‘ovens’ with hot soup in the middle of the tables, as centerpieces. Not giving up on the opportunity the Shluchim split the room with red and blue tablecloths and educated the crowd about the ‘Kosher Kitchen’.
Participants received a baker’s hat and apron as they washed for the Seuda, then they proceeded to their seats where they found a box of Mishloach Monos which they exchanged with the person on their side and gave Matonos Laevyonim in the two Pushkas on the table.
The program began with the MC inviting the Chief Chef aka the Rabbi, to read the ‘recipe’ for the evening. The crowd listened carefully making sure not to miss any ‘ingredients’ and participating with loud jeers, erasing the parts that would spoil the recipe.
The children of the Ohr Avner Preschool and School mesmerized the crowd with their phenomenal Purim performance in rhyme and dance!
Contests, jokes and games all in the theme of ‘The Kosher Kitchen’ run by a professional entertainer created a lively Purim spirit and prompted many to remain and Farbreng afterwards.
Before the day was over, the shluchim and their kids and girls from seminary in Israel went on Bikur Bayis to share the Mitzvos and Simcha of Purim with those who were not able to make it to the Shul.
