For this year's Purim celebration, the working committee at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, wanted to hold a fund-raiser that brought together a younger crowd and a mix of people from the community. In a nod to the holiday, which commemorates how Queen Ester saved the Jews from persecution in ancient Persia, the group dreamed up bash inspired by that very region.
To invoke the feeling of a Persian bazaar, the temple tapped JKS Events to produce the March 3 event. "We are transforming C.B.E.’s ballroom by bringing in pop-up tents that will be richly draped with Middle Eastern-themed fabrics, lanterns, and decorative pieces, provided by Flowers, Sticks, and Stones," said Janeen Saltman, president of JKS Events. Saltman also brought in a palm reader, a henna tattoo artist, an airbrusher, and LED and fire performers the Gyronauts to provide entertainment.
Cat Greenleaf of WNBC's Talk Stoop acted as the evening’s emcee, getting the guests psyched for the festivities throughout the event and announcing the Spiel performance, a customary act on the Jewish holiday in which members of the community perform a creative and topical rendition of the biblical story of Purim. "The festive holiday of Purim is a perfect backdrop for a large party," said Saltman.
The Uri Gurvich Trio, an LED poi-spinning artist, and a Hula-Hooping Gyronaut performed as the 400 costumed guests arrived. A stilt-walker also roamed the bazaar. Upstairs, Saltman set up various tents and activities for guests, including an accessories display with costumes and other accoutrements, a raffle-sales table, palm and tarot card readers, a space with body airbrushing and a henna artist, and a third canopy with one of the two main bars. DJ Mario Robles played a mix of Middle Eastern-style background music and pop, hip-hop, and rock.
The menu matched the motif with kosher dishes provided by Steven Brown Caterers. Items included falafel with mini pitas and tahini served with an Israeli salad, vegetable tagine with zucchini, Greek salad with feta cheese in a mini toast cup, and pomegranate-glazed salmon skewers with Harissa sauce.
All proceeds from ticket sales went to the synagogue. An additional $22,000 was raised through a call for donations in which the rabbi asked guests to raise paddles and contribute toward specific items for the temple such as signage. "With the Temple undergoing renovations, the community is being brought together to raise valuable funds for the temple’s improvements," said Saltman.
