Ohev Shalom Celebrates 40th Purim Anniversary With New Megillah Created by Israeli Rabbi/Scribe Hanna Klebansky

Ohev Shalom Celebrates its 40th Purim Anniversary With New Megillah Created by

Israeli Conservative Rabbi/Scribe Hanna Klebansky

Richboro, PA…As if the festival of Purim itself is not reason enough to celebrate, Ohev Shalom of Bucks County will also mark three special milestones: the synagogue’s 40th anniversary, the reading of a brand new Megillah created in Israel by an ordained Conservative female rabbi and scribe, and a new, innovative Purim service that rotates between Megillah chapters and carnival activities in a singular, interactive evening program.

A Birthday Milestone Leads to a Quest for a Megillah Scribe

For 40 years, the anniversary celebration of Ohev Shalom has coincided with the observation of Purim. The holiday commemorates the victory of the Jewish people in fourth century Persia over Haman’s plot to annihilate them. The Megillah scroll is used to retell the story of how Queen Esther, secretly a Jew, convinced the King, her husband, to spare the lives of her people.

When Ohev Shalom congregant Idelle Wood had taught a class on the Megillah to Ohev Shalom’s sisterhood two years ago, she noticed that the beloved scroll had clearly been well used for a good number of years. “I thought it would be great to celebrate my own milestone birthday by doing something meaningful for Ohev Shalom,” Wood said. “Providing the synagogue with a new Megillah seemed like an important gift.”

Wood began to look for the perfect scribe. Her search ended in Israel, where she discovered the talents of Rabbi Hanna Klebansky, a Conservative rabbi ordained by the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in Jerusalem and one of only 20 women in the world trained as a Soferet Stam (a scribe of Jewish texts). Klebansky immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union in 1996.

“I form each letter by hand, while meditating on the holiness of the Hebrew letters,” Klebansky explained of her process. Many other steps were taken to ensure that the Megillah was distinct to Ohev Shalom. Images of olive branches and doves, symbols strongly associated with Ohev Shalom, were painted on each sheet of kosher parchment. Passages were inscribed in large fonts, in keeping with Ohev Shalom’s commitment to inclusion. A large case made of Jerusalem olive wood was crafted by another Israeli artist to hold the Megillah. It is also adorned with doves and olive branches.

According to Ohev Shalom Rabbi Eliott Perlstein, “there is no denying that the Megillah clearly captures the essence of our synagogue.”

An Innovative Celebration to Mark a Milestone Purim

The celebration of Purim is always special, but with a 40th anniversary to commemorate and a new Megillah to share, Ohev Shalom was eager to break new ground with its Purim service. That will be achieved on March 23 at 6 p.m. when the synagogue lifts the barriers which typically divide the Megillah reading and carnival festivities by merging them into a single, rotating, joyous event. “First off, the Megillah will be moved into the social hall and projected on screen so that it can be seen by all. Then our plan is to conduct chapter readings and craft and carnival activities in intervals – read three chapters, have some fun; read three chapters, have more fun,” explained Rabbi Perlstein.

This approach, developed by a Purim planning committee after much research, unifies the experience of reading the Megillah and celebrating the holiday. “We have so much to celebrate this year. This will surely be an unforgettable way to do so,” said Rabbi Perlstein.

The public is welcome to celebrate Purim at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County on March 23 at 6 p.m.

Ohev Shalom’s Anniversary Gift to the Community: Free Membership for New Pre-Aleph Families

An important part of Ohev Shalom’s 40th anniversary celebration involves positively contributing to the quality of life of the community around it. This has come in the form of a new initiative: offering free synagogue membership to unaffiliated families whose children have not yet reached third grade. This would enable new families to experience the vibrant and dynamic congregation and all that it has to offer. A second initiative, directed toward current and prospective members, makes mandatory building fund contributions a thing of the past. Moving forward, they will be optional. “At forty we come to a deeper understanding of synagogue life so we can build our future. Our future means not only the future of Ohev Shalom. It also means enriching the lives of our community,” said Rabbi Perlstein.

ABOUT OHEV SHALOM OF BUCKS COUNTY

Ohev Shalom (located at 944 Second Street Pike in Richboro) has been serving the Jewish community of Bucks County since its founding in 1976. Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, it is a vibrant and dynamic congregation that is committed to serving the spiritual, cultural, educational and social needs of its congregational family. Ohev Shalom celebrates the uniqueness of each individual and welcomes diversity within our sacred community.

For information about Ohev Shalom, go to www.ohev.org.

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