First ever Shavei Israel Polish Purim trip to Israel kicks off
Shavei Israel’s first ever Purim seminar for young Jews from Poland kicked off this week. Fourteen participants from across Poland landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday and began touring the country as part of a quick, one-week trip to Israel.
Shavei Israel has for many years run an annual two-week seminar for the “Hidden Jews” of Poland during the summer. This year, with Purim overlapping with Easter, many Polish Jews have extra time off. So Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund realized it would be the perfect opportunity to provide an entirely different Israel experience, one that includes not one but two Purim celebrations.
That’s because, according to Jewish tradition, formerly walled cities such as Jerusalem and Safed celebrate “Shushan Purim” a day later than the rest of the country. So the Polish Jewish visitors will celebrate Purim first in Tel Aviv this evening, then take the bus to Jerusalem tomorrow and do it all over again!
We have profiles of some of the participants here. And here are some pictures from the group’s first day in Israel as they tour Israel’s norther coast line, including Rosh Hanikra and Acre. (We’ll post some Purim pictures after the holiday, so check back on our website.)
The group will visit be spending Purim with Chabad in Tel Aviv and at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. Shabbat will be in Jerusalem, as well, with Friday night meals at the homes of local rabbis, lunch together as a group, and the traditional third meal held at the Western Wall.
It’s traditional on Purim to drink enough so that you can’t tell the difference between the wickedness of Haman and the blessing of Mordechai. In that spirit, let’s raise a glass and welcome our Jewish visitors from Poland. Ad lo yada!