600+ Young Adults Celebrate Purim with Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir
Ramah alumni and friends gathered last week in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia to celebrate Purim with Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir: our program for 20s and 30s engagement. With passion for community and lay leadership, our fantastic Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir Coordinators organized Megillah readings, festive celebrations, a happy hour, and a post-Purim Shabbat dinner, giving Ramahniks an opportunity to celebrate the holiday together and fulfill the mitzvot of Purim. Attendees at our NYC Megillah Madness raised over $1,000 in matanot le’evyonim, gifts to those in need, for Met Council—a Jewish organization that provides tens of thousands of New Yorkers with critical services in their fight against poverty each year.
Read on to learn more about each of our events:
Chicago
Our Chicago Purim Alumni Happy Hour brought together alumni from five Ramah camps for a festive evening.
“With Purim crafts and trinkets on every table, the space was filled with nostalgia and Purim spirit as old friends reconnected and new bonds formed.”
Los Angeles
In its first year, our Los Angeles Megillah Reading and Purim Party gathered over 200 young adults! This event was a collaboration between Sinai Temple, JQ, and Reshet Ramah, and it included sushi, Hamentashen, a DJ, a drag queen-led costume contest, and a Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebration.
“It was an awesome night and people stayed right until the very end. We had a great time and are hoping to collaborate again in the future.”
New York City
Our annual Megillah Madness drew a record-breaking 330 young adults to Park Avenue Synagogue to hear Megillah, dance to lively music, enjoy festive noshes and drinks, and celebrate with face painting and a photo booth. Click here to view photos from the event!
In addition to raising over $1,000 in matanot le’evyonim for Met Council, attendees brought dry goods to use as groggers, which will be donated to The New York Common Pantry.
Megillah Madness 5785 was hosted by Reshet Ramah, Park Avenue Synagogue, USY Alumni, YALA, JTS Alumni, and Reshet Ramah, and we are grateful to our generous sponsors for supporting this event: Ansche Chesed, Beth El Synagogue Center, Congregation Agudath Israel, CSAIR, JTS, Midway, Jewish Center, Orangetown Jewish Center, Temple Emanu-El of Closter, Temple Israel Center, and the United Synagogue of Hoboken.
Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, 30 Ramah alumni concluded Purim with Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv, followed by a festive dinner. The event was in partnership with Tribe 12, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit centered around creating Jewish community for young Jewish adults.
“It was a really relaxed atmosphere, and everyone enjoyed the chance to get together.”