First Purim Party in the World

An overwhelming crowd filled the southern-most Chabad House in the world, in Canterbury, New Zealand. Some two hundred people from across the city, the country and the world made their way to New Zealand’s only Chabad House, which was the first globally to bring in Purim due to its geological location. Rabbi Berri Spitetzki, assistant director of Chabad of New Zealand said “this was definitely the largest crowd to congregate for Purim in the country’s history.”

Nissan Zigman, who helped coordinate the event, said, “The Chabad House is the only place in the country’s South Island where the Megilah reading can be heard.”

Some 20,000 Israeli backpackers tour the region each year. “Purim day we will be starting the first reading at six am,” said Mendy Baruch, one of the new Merkos-Shluchim to join the Chabad House team, “as many backpackers will be on the road early in the day with no other option for Megilah reading.” Mendy arrived only two weeks ago with his colleagues Yisroel Pekar and Levi Moscowitz.

Rabbi Mendel and Sara Goldstein – Shluchim to the country, praised the efforts of the new bochurim, and said that they have never seen such a lively Purim celebration.