FOOD, WINE & JOY – IT`S PURIM AT MASBIA

By Usher Lichtman

It was a week before Purim and we weren`t sure we would be able to be open for Purim since Masbia is set up to serve meals to the poor on regular weekdays and being open on Purim would be quite tricky.

As the saying goes, "charity begins at home" and spending a large part of the Purim holiday away from our families would be quite a challenge. The cost for Masbia would also be much higher then it is for a regular day being that the need would increase exponentially on Purim. Boro Park on Purim is quite a happening place. The needy from all over make the trek to Boro Park to raise funds among their fellow Jews who generously dole out funds to all who ask as is the custom on Purim. Accommodating the anticipated overflow of guests would be financially and logistically tough.

The contemplation quickly subsided as a couple of our major donors heard of our dilemma and came through with large donations. The decision was made; Masbia will be open for Purim. Purim at Masbia was to be the grandest of Purim celebrations.

Preparations:

"We`re on," came the call from Alexander Rapaport Masbia Director, and the staff instantly set out to work on the Masbia Purim Feast project. We hired two additional waiters, made arrangements to have extra tables and chairs ready at the Masbia dining hall and ordered exorbitant amounts of food to accommodate the anticipated surge in guests being served.

We prepared 50 pounds of Hamentaschen, dozens of large challahs, 350 smaller challah rolls, cake and cookies – all donated by the Strauss Bakery. 600 helpings of stuffed cabbage, 400 servings of gefilte fish, 300 salmon steaks, hundreds of sesame chicken portions and chicken dumplings, a variety of soups and more then 1,000 servings of a variety of kugels. Among the side dishes prepared were horseradish, pickles, sauerkraut and coleslaw. An assortment of cold drinks and grape juice was to be served as well as wine, as is the custom to drink wine on the holiday of Purim. For desert, a delicious fruit compote was to be enjoyed by the many expected guests.

We got the word out by hanging invitations at local senior centers and at offices providing services to the poor and by inserting leaflets into Tomchai Shabbos (a kosher food pantry) food packages that got delivered days before Purim. The response was big and instantaneous. Within hours of the food packages being delivered, the phones started ringing. People called non stop wanting to know if we can accommodate them and asked for details of what our hours will be on Purim.

The Purim Feast:

We knew it was going to be big, but could not imagine it would be that big. At opening time there were 100 guests waiting to come in and soon it was standing room only. People came in and were amazed at how elaborately Masbia staff had prepared the now overfilled dining hall and despite the large crowds, everyone instantly felt at home. We served people non stop on Purim eve. and all day throughout Purim day. There was a constant flow of guests coming in some just to have a bite but ended up staying to have an elaborate feast. The attendance was a lot more then expected but we managed to accommodate everybody.

We had seniors, young people and families with children attend. As always, the food was in abundance and delicious. But it wasn`t just food that people got that day at Masbia, they got nourishment for the soul as well as gift baskets and cash handout from visitors who came to Masbia to celebrate Purim with those less fortunate. People brought gift baskets with candies for the kids as well as food packages to hand out to poor families. As one guest told me later, he had people handing him ten and twenty dollar bills and doing it in such a friendly manner. It all added up to a large sum enabling him to get some badly needed dental work which he had pushed off all too long for lack of funds.

There is a mitzvah on Purim to drink and enjoy the festive holiday – and everyone did so, responsibly. The mood was jubilant and of high spirits as guests, staff, volunteers and local residents raised their voices in song and danced to a Purim tune playing on a loudspeaker set up especially for this unique occasion.

We all brought our families and had a beautiful Purim holiday at Masbia. As one staff member said as he stood watching the festivities, "G-D is certainly watching the scene from above with approval, I`m just glad to be part of Masbia." That was the exact feeling that many expressed as they came in and immediately felt heart warmed and instantly knew that there was something special happening that day at Masbia. Indeed it was a special day, it was Purim at Masbia.