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Purim Party at Belmont United

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Event

Everyone turned out in their best fancy dress for a day of Purim celebrations at Belmont shul, where the entertainment was totally novel – a digital portrait artist. Attendees, who also got the chance to hear the Megillah in a packed shul and enjoy an array of delicious food for their Purim seudah, took it in turns to pose for the artist, who drew his subjects straight onto an iPad. This element was well received but also convenient, as it didn’t make many demands logistically and wasn’t noisy or disruptive.

Evaluation from David Lerner, Chair of Belmont:

‘In a year when we did not have a Rabbi, we wanted to make sure that we had an innovative and enjoyable programme that was affordable for attendees. We kept food costs a slow as possible by charging £7 for adults and £5 for kids. We booked an entertainment that we believe no shul has used before – a drawing booth – which went down well with participants. They were really thrilled with the result and saw that the shul had done something ‘cool’’. By providing food at the shul we also ensured that everyone present had a Purim seudah’

Participant Feedback:

  • I enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing the warm, communal atmosphere. The caricature artists were excellent and I bought home one of their drawings as a memento
  • It was an enjoyable and sociable event. It’s nice to feel welcome at a Synagogue where you are not a member!
  • These sorts of events demonstrate how important it is to keep coming up with great new ideas to attract those who are distant from shul life