Purim

Purim is an exciting time at FTJC. We celebrate with feasts, fun, retelling and listening to the story of Mordechai, Esther, Vashti, Achashverosh, and the wicked Haman. This year as always we have a jam-packed schedule of programs.

Click or tap on the links below to jump to each section:

Purim Night and Morning - All Ages

Mishloach Manot and other Purim Mitzvot

Community Carnivals at Hebrew Tabernacle and the Y

All events (unless otherwise noted) take place at the Fort Tryon Jewish Center at our new home, the Fort Washington Collegiate Campus, 729 West 181st Street. Please enter via the corner gate at Fort Washington Ave. and 181st Street.

Purim Night!
Monday March 2

Evening Megillah Readings

6:30 PM:  MAIN READING, beginning with Ma'ariv prayers
Fellowship Hall

8:30 PM: QUIET LATE READING
Fellowship Hall
No groggers and only quiet booing in consideration of those with sensory sensitivities.

Hamantaschen sponsored by the Griff-Gaebler and Griff-Sleven families in memory of their beloved father Harris Morton Griff z"l. Additional break-fast nosh sponsored by the Glass family in celebration of Gideon’s Purim birthday. 

Rimonim: Purim Evening Fun and Family Megillah Experience
Atrium and Fellowship Hall

4:45 PM: CRAFT PROJECTS (toddlers to 5th Gr)
Come show off your artistic skills with Purim related crafts, while enjoying a light, kid-friendly dinner. 
 
5:30 PM: COSTUME SPECTACLE (toddlers to 5th grade)
Rabbi Guy hosts a show-off extravaganza for children of all ages, in categories of all kinds!

5:45 PM: FAMILY MEGILLAH EXPERIENCE (all ages)
A dramatic and fun reading of megillah highlights in both Hebrew and English, with much merriment and schtick. All are welcome to enjoy, laugh, and boo with all their might!

6:30 PM - FULL MEGILLAH READING
Join the full community for the Ma'ariv service a full traditional Megillah reading.
 

Purim Morning!
Tuesday March 3

Morning Megillah Readings

7:00-8:15 AM - EARLY READING, beginning with Shacharit
Fellowship Hall - enter via 181st Street
Another glorious reading of the Megillah by light of day. Families and children are welcome as always. We begin at 7:00 AM sharp for a quick Shacharit (morning prayers) with Torah reading, followed by the Megillah.

10:00-10:40 AM - LATE READING
Fellowship Hall - enter via 181st Street
Last chance for late risers!

Mishloach Manot and other Purim Mitzvot

Mishloach Manot (Sending Gifts of Food)
Register here to sponsor Mishloach Manot by Sunday, March 1 at 11:59 PM.
FTJC has set up an easy way for you to send Mishloach Manot — gifts of food and drink that are sent to family and friends — while supporting your synagogue at the same time. Each FTJC member household who wishes to receive a package can pick up, whether you cosponsored or not! The package will include a card listing the names of the sponsors. Each package will contain a variety of foods including hamentaschen (all packages will be peanut and nut free!). Mishloach Manot packages will be available for pickup at Purim celebrations at FTJC on Monday March 2 and Tuesday March 3.

Matanot l’Evyonim (Gifts for the Poor)
Bring a cash contribution when you arrive for evening or morning megillah readings! FTJC is collecting donations for matanot l’evyonim (gifts to the poor), which is also a mitzvah for Purim. Or just make a donation online and mark it "Purim Gifts for the Poor". We will be distributing the funds to the Jewish Community Council of Washington Heights-Inwood, American Jewish World Service, and Mazon. It’s also a wonderful practice to carry change or small bills on Purim, so that you can give freely to anyone who asks for money on the street.

Ta’anit Esther (Fast of Esther)
Monday March 2
Begins at dawn, 5:07 AM, and ends at nightfall, 6:29 PM. Fast like the Jewish people depend on it —remember Ta’anit Esther, honoring Esther’s dangerous flirtation with doom (Esther 4:16). Those who are pregnant, nursing, unwell, or have a medical condition or eating disorder that precludes fasting are exempt and should not fast. Likewise anyone who begins the fast but becomes unable to continue should break the fast. Minors are also exempt, but older children can learn to participate in some partial way if they’re able.

Giving the Machatzit Hashekel (Tzedakah)
Monday March 2
A pre-Purim custom is to give a small amount (about $1.50) to tzedakah or to a Jewish institution, for every adult member of the household. Based on Exodus 30:11-16, this radically egalitarian custom (“the rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less”) recalls the half-shekel given in ancient times “to make atonement for their souls” — and has been adapted for Purim, perhaps acknowledging the massacre of our enemies in Esther 9:15-16?  The custom is to give during the daytime of the Fast of Esther.

Community Carnivals at the Y and Hebrew Tabernacle

Pre-Purim Carnival at the Y
Sunday March 1, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Y of Washington Heights & Inwood, 54 Nagle Ave.
A community-wide carnival with bouncy houses, face painting, music, and more! FTJC and other local congregations will run activity tables such as puppets, crowns, and groggers. Dress up and see you there! For more info see the Y's website.

Pre-Purim Carnival at the Hebrew Tabernacle
Sunday March 1, 1:00-4:30 PM
551 Fort Washington Ave.
For more info see HT's website.