Over 5,000 People Enjoyed The True Purim Spirit In Kharkov

 On Monday night and on Tuesday, Purim was celebrated in the Kharkov circus arena. In the past, this 3-hour annual event drew over 2,500 people. This year, however, the attendance doubled.

The program was dedicated to Shnas HaChamishim, the 50th year of the Rebbe’s leadership. A large picture of the Rebbe and a big “50” hung high in the background.

Everyone received a beautiful mishloach manos. In the circus entrance, hundreds of men put on tefillin and hundreds of women and girls received neshek brochures and candles. Jewish music filled the air as the large crowd began to fill the circus hall.

Rabbi Moishe Moskovitz began the program, explaining the significance of Purim and the importance of unity, which brought salvation in the times of Purim and will also bring redemption in our times.

A school choir of over 60 children sang a special version of “Oh Rebbe” in Russian, dedicated to Shnas HaChamishim. The choir also sang lively Purim songs, which got the whole crowd clapping. Then came the circus program with jugglers, leopards, bears, monkeys, clowns, and acrobats. Of course, the Megilla was read. Each mention of Haman’s name brought with it a circus surprise – clowns jumped from everywhere with giant-sized graggers, some on bicycles, wheelbarrows, even horses.

An observer to the event could see the pride and happiness in their Jewish identity radiating from the faces of the participants. The audience expressed their gratitude to the Rebbe, who made the evening possible. After all, who would have thought that after so many years of communism and oppression, Purim could be celebrated publicly and openly in the CIS for all to enjoy and see?

Or Avner Chabad were the sponsors of this exciting program, and the 5,000 mishloach manos were subsidized by Global Jewish Organization.