With pink highlights and a bright flowered clip in her hair, Fiona Epstein welcomed the crowd of women to the Cocktails, Caring and Comedy event featuring Cory Kahaney at Temple Israel of Sharon.
?Be happy it?s Adar,? Epstein announced to the audience of more than 200 women on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Earlier that day she had participated in Wacky Hair Wednesday. ?(The month of) Adar provides an opportunity to bring happiness to people.?
The celebratory holiday of Purim falls in the month of Adar. Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people who were living in Persia were saved from death.?
As part of the festive celebrations of Adar and Purim, the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and a number of area temples and synagogues organized a night of laughter, food and charity. The event even had a signature drink: Vashtini (vodka, apple juice, pomegranate juice and club soda).?
?Just imagine sisterhoods from all of the local synagogues ? reformed, conservative and orthodox - coming together as one,? Sharon resident and JCC South event chairwoman Beth Lappen said. ?We are crossing the boundaries of synagogues walls. This is my favorite event of the year.?
The annual gathering of women from the area synagogues started years ago as a women?s Seder but evolved to remain ?relevant and responsive and inclusive,? Lappen said.?
?So (the Seder) morphed into a dynamic, vibrant, interactive and Hamish (familiar, cozy) social event bring synagogue sisterhoods under one roof,? Lappen said.
As women entered Temple Israel, boxes near the front door became filled with items for New Hope, an Attleboro-based charity that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Epstein, vice president of the JCC Boston, said New Hope was selected because of its local presence and to keep with the tradition of giving during Purim. Attendees were asked to bring pajamas and slippers.
?You can see what you are giving and that is a tangible thing for what people can bring,? Epstein said of the donation. ?It also stops people in their tracks. It isn?t about enjoyment for oneself, but enjoyment for others.?
Ruth Zakarin, vice president of operations for New Hope, said the donation would be given to families in its two confidential shelters.
In addition to running various programs for victims of domestic and sexual assault, the nonprofit helps women that ?need to flee abuse? through its shelters.
?Yesterday we welcomed a new family: a woman and her 2-year-old child,? she said. They have with literally the clothes on their backs.?
On Valentine?s Day a party will be held at the shelter where the new pajama?s and slippers will be given to the residents, the new family included, Zakarin said.
In addition to helping others, the annual Purim program is a sort of reunion. Lappen said.
?They are laughing. They are making connections that they haven?t made in years, she paused. ?They play a massive game of Jewish geography and that is the best. There is such a warmth in the event. It really is one big community.?
As the event moved toward the comedy portion of the night, Lappen proudly listed off the co-sponsors for the Cocktails, Caring and Comedy: Temple Israel Sisterhood, Temple Sinai Sharon, Temple Beth Abraham Canton, Congregation Sha'aray Shalom in Hingham
Temple Adath in Sharon, Temple Kol Tikvah in Sharon, Ahavath Torah Congregation, Temple Beth Emunah in Brocton, Temple Chayai Shalom in Easton, Temple Beth Am of Randolph, Temple Israel of Sharon, Heights Crossing Assisted Living in Brocton, Mayyim Hayyim, Hadassah and Temple Beth Sholom in Hull.
When taking the stage, comedian Corey Kahaney made an observation.
?I was listening to the list of temples and synagogues in the area,? she laughed. ?I don?t think there are enough temples and synagogues in your area.?
Kahaney has appeared on the ?Late Show with David Letterman,? ?the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,? ?the Joy Behar Show? and ?NBC?s Last Comic Standing.?
JCC South Purim festivities continue on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. at Temple Kol Tikvah, 9 Dunbar St. in Sharon. The event is open to kids ages 2 and up and will feature Violet the Clown. Cost is $15 per family and registration can be made at bostonjcc.org/southpurim.
For more information on Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston visit bostonjcc.org/Locations/South.aspx. To learn more about New Hope visit www.new-hope.org.
Epstein has been working with JCC for years and encourages others to get involved.
?We do great work here.? she said. ?We?ve connected hundreds and hundreds of families together and give them an opportunity to meet one another and be relevant.?
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