LIM Pesach 2013

Once again LIM members met to celebrate Pesach, this time at St Peter at Gowts hall because in St Georges, our usual venue, we would have been competing with a Zumba class!!

In addition to our usual members we were delighted to welcome once again Ellis who had very generously donated our Pesach Kiddush cup. We also had pleasure in welcoming Eric and Christine Hewes, plus Revd Bruce Thompson as special guests for the evening. Sadly, Elijah did not turn up.

Everyone contributed to the delicious Seder meal in a variety of ways. Steve led the service, providing transliterated Hebrew for all the main elements for those for whom Hebrew was a bit of a challenge. Thus, everyone joined in the singing with great enthusiasm and helped with the reading of the Seder story.

This was another wonderful evening of friendship, laughter, communal generosity and co-operation, everyone having something to contribute, everyone taking away a happy memory of a festival celebrated in traditional style, but in a manner that enabled everyone to participate.

Purim 2013

What LIM Members Had to Say About Purim 2013

Steve, Micky, Maxine, Ruth, Natan, Peter, Jane, Yvonne and Dorothy

“In spite of the seriousness of the event, I felt we were back in kindergarten or in the middle of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. I had not laughed so much for a very long time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very interested in the story of Esther. What a woman!”   -Yvonne

Fish and Chips Supper

“A ‘first’ again for LIM was this celebration of Purim which as usual went like ‘clock-work’ owing to the tireless efforts of its organisers.  There was a perfect blend of seriousness and merriment to this occasion which commenced with a delicious meal of fish and chips from the local ‘chippie’ and after readings by the members of the events of Purim, punctuated by reflections and comments by Steve,  ended with some very tasty home-made hamantaschen provided by the members.”  –Pat and Peter

Ruth and Micky

Jane, Maxine and Ruth

“At LIM we recently had our first Purim celebration. We met in a member’s house, started the evening with a lovely fish and chip supper, then made Havdala before starting the Purim story. We all wore ‘silly hats’ to enter into the spirit of the occasion. The hats gave rise to a lot of laughter. Each one of us read a chapter from the Megilla Esther amid much cheering and booing. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening filled with laughter and wonderful companionship.”  –Jane

Yvonne and Maxine

Steve

“We all said a hearty Shehechianu as LIM celebrated Purim for the very first time. Everyone entered into the spirit of the craziness of Purim by wearing daft hats, such as a Captain Hornblower hat, a knotted hanky, a Swiss maiden’s pigtail hat, a Steampunk top hat and goggles and an RAF officer’s cap. We clapped, booed, cheered and behaved very childishly as each one took a turn to read a chapter from Esther. It was all great fun and rounded off by eating excellent Hamantaschen. It is occasions like this that make us all realise what a jewel we have in our LIM kehilla.”  –Steve G

Natan and Jane

“Each year when rereading the ‘Purim story’ different aspects strike one; this year it was the similarity between this book and the Greek play Lysistrata. From the Book of Esther – the strength of character of a number of women had a great influence, not only for the Jews but also on the closed community within a harem. Sometimes saying ‘no’ can sometimes change the course of history!”  –Dorothy

Ruth

Natan and Maxine

“LIM have done it yet again!  Another LIM first!  It was simply a fantastic, enjoyable funny evening.  The fish and chips were a brilliant idea and from beginning to end the evening was a resounding success.  Here’s wishing for many more years of LIM.”  –Ruth and Natan

Natan and Ruth

Maxine

“I just loved this first celebration of Purim by LIM. It was great fun making fools of ourselves by wearing silly hats and cheering and booing throughout the reading of the Megilla. We all enjoyed a fish and chips supper and then Hamantaschan after the reading. Thank you everyone for joining in the spirit of Purim and the spirit of being a wonderful community of friends.”  –Micky

Steve and Maxine Lead the Havdalah Service

Ruth and Steve

“Not only was this LIM’s first Purim celebration but possibly the first time anywhere that a Purim reading had to be cut short due to uncontrolled laughter!”-Steve T

Steve, Micky, Maxine, Ruth, Natan, Pat, Jane, Yvonne and Dorothy