Dear Shvilei HaTorah Family,

Purim. 3 days of Purim. Need I say more?

Okay, I will. After Megilla reading on Thursday night and Friday morning, we visited with the rabbis from outside Jerusalem (who were celebrating their only day of Purim). There was lots of singing and food, and plenty of divrei Torah from the guys. Thanks to our student Megilla readers: Alex Edelman, Natan Aronhime, Andrew Berger, Ari Tretin, and Stanley Weinberg.

Friday night was highlighted by a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat. As Rabbi Reichel remarked, the previous Shabbat spent in Tzefat clearly paid off. With us as a guest was R. Zvi Shimon, our resident Tanach expert. After Friday night dinner, R. Zvi led an exciting tish, complete with cholent, cakes, and other great food; he discussed literary approaches to the Megilla, and what religious messages emerge from the satire of Persian culture in Esther.

Motzei Shabbat, the real parties began. On Saturday night we had the Potash Family Mesiba (not to be confused with the Seuda), with live music (Schmell on vocals), pizza, and a special movie presentation by the students of Shvilei.

On Sunday morning, the Purim chesed continued, as we delivered Mishloach Manot to a home for physically challenged residents. After that, we visited the Jerusalem-based rabbis, who were finally getting around to their day of celebration. Finally, after 3 long days, Sunday afternoon brought the Purim Seuda. The Seuda was a very spiritual event, with singing, dancing, mussar, etc.

Monday afternoon, as a change of pace from the fervent Purim celebrations, we had an outdoor tiyul to Tel Azeika. The top of the hill overlooks Emek Ha-Ela, the place of the famous battle between David and Goliath. At the bottom of the hill are caves from the Bar-Kochba rebellion. This nexus of Jewish history was fun and beautiful.

Our Wednesday night speaker, this week, was none other than our very own R. Jacobson. R. Jacobson spoke about returning home following an intense Winter Zman of Yeshiva: both as a yeshiva student and as a young adult who is beginning to set his own course in life.

This Shabbat is an Out Shabbat, the last one before Pesach vacation. We have one brief week left before Heritage and vacation, and it should be good.

Shabbat Shalom,
Naftali and Rachel Balanson
Av and Em Bayit