As part of the “JOY-JEW” month of joy, which continues at the Levi-Yitzhak Schneerson Jewish Lyceum No. 144, an unusual Purim celebration took place, which was called “Mega-Purim-Business-Fest”.
The Jewish Lyceum decided to hold this event in the Menorah center and all the lyceum students were divided into two parts, which had the same program, but the first part first listened to the reading of the Suva Megilat Esther, and then participated in master classes and the Purim fair, and the second group, on the contrary, first received master classes and the fair, and only after that they listened to the reading of the Megilat Esther.
The first reading of Megillat Esther for the lyceum students was conducted by Shimshon Furlander, and the second by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Feldman, both readings took place at the Menorah Cafe location. The five workshops were held in the informal education space on the 8th floor of the Menorah Center. At each workshop, boys and girls made some kind of handmade souvenirs and some kind of Purim treat – so, at the first workshop, they made a photo frame and popcorn, at the second – crackers and ice cream, at the third – hair hoops and a trifle dessert, at the fourth – badges and cupcakes, at the fifth – bracelets and fruit lemonade. Each group of children attended only one workshop, and after its completion they received a certain number of banknotes of a certain color to participate in the fair, which took place on the 9th floor of the Menorah Center.
At the fair, each group offered its own souvenirs and treats, which they were to sell for bills of other colors, and could use their own bills to buy treats and gifts from other groups. The one who received the most colorful money was to become the winner of the “Mega-Purim-Business-Fest”.
“This was our original idea – to offer children to develop a business model in the format of a game, choosing the optimal approaches to pricing, marketing and advertising in order to collect as much “money” as possible, while at the same time feeling like consumers, who are also an important part of any business,” said the head teacher of the lyceum, Aliza Rabinovich. “This economic game was not just entertainment, it contributed to the fulfillment of the commandments of Purim, such as “Mishte ve Simcha” and “Matanot leEvonim”, because both children and their parents had the opportunity at any time to donate money to such important goals as supporting Jewish military personnel or supporting the elderly in the Beit Baruch House, or to other charitable and socially important areas.”
While the students were having such a fun and useful time, their parents were not bored either – they were offered a big lecture, conducted by Aliza Rabinovich, which was dedicated to Purim and its meanings. After the lecture, a master class on decorations for Mishloach Manot was held for parents, after which they were also able to take part in the fair, but not as sellers, but only as consumers, and all the money they spent was also directed to charitable purposes.
“It was a very eventful and interesting celebration of Purim,” continues Aliza Rabinovich, “at the end we gathered together and solemnly congratulated those who became the winners of our “Mega-Purim-Business-Fest”. In the group of grades 1-5, the first-grade team won third place and received a “Creative Dress Code Day” certificate as a gift; second place went to the 4th grade, which received a certificate “For the cancellation of independent work in one subject of choice”; and the winner was the 3rd with the main prize – a certificate “For a teacher’s tip during a test”. There were slightly different prizes for the second group, and in this group the 8th grade won the third place, for which it received the certificate “Day without a dress code “Fashionable Tsniut””, in second place – the 9th grade with a certificate “For the cancellation of independent work in one subject of choice”, and the winner was the graduating 11th grade, which was solemnly awarded the certificate “Day without surveys and tests”. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who participated in such a beautiful and useful celebration!”.
