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.

Bet Art Midrash!
Sunday March 9 (Rav Sara Zacharia's Bet Art Midrash is back THIS SUNDAY at the intersection of text study and creative expression, exploring the deeper themes of upcoming holidays. Materials will be supplied and snacks will be served. Suggested sliding scale donation of $10-$20 per person, per session. Registration required! Each session will be confirmed when we have a minimum of 6 registrations.) Cosponsored by the Fort Tryon Jewish Center and the Y of Washington Heights & Inwood. Please reach out to Rav Sara, rabbisarazacharia@gmail.com, with any questions.

Purim Night!
Thursday March 13

Evening Megillah Readings

7:45 PM:  MAIN READING, starting with Ma'ariv prayers
Fellowship Hall

7:45 PM: QUIET READING, starting with Ma'ariv prayers
North Room
No groggers and only quiet booing in consideration of those with sensory sensitivities.

Hamantaschen and other break-fast nosh sponsored by the Griff-Gaebler and Griff-Sleven families in memory of their beloved father Harris Morton Griff z"l.

9:45 PM: LATE MEGILLAH READING
 

Rimonim: Purim Evening Fun and Family Megillah Experience
in the Gymnasium, 2nd floor

6:00 PM: CRAFT PROJECTS (toddlers to 5th Gr)
Come show off your artistic skills with Purim related crafts, while enjoying a light, kid-friendly dinner. 
 
6:30 PM: COSTUME SPECTACLE (toddlers to 5th grade)
Rabbi Guy hosts a show-off extravaganza for children of all ages, in categories of all kinds!

6:45 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!

7:45 PM - FULL MEGILLAH READING
Head down to Fellowship Hall for the Ma'ariv service a full traditional Megillah reading for the entire community.
 

Purim Morning!
Friday March 14

Morning Megillah Reading
7:00-8:15 AM
Fellowship Hall
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.

Mishloach Manot and other Purim Mitzvot

Mishloach Manot (Sending Gifts of Food)
Register here to sponsor Mishloach Manot by Sunday, March 9 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 Thursday March 13 and Friday March 14.

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)
Thursday March 13
Begins at dawn, 5:49 AM, and ends at nightfall, 7:42 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)
Thursday March 13
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 9, 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! Registration and tickets here.

Purim Day Carnival at the Hebrew Tabernacle
Sunday March 16, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
551 Fort Washington Ave.
For more info see HT's website.