By Simon Phillips – 3rd year pharmacy student at Liverpool University
I lay flat. Red face paint strewn across my eyebrow. My novelty-nachman kippah at an unworldly angle.
Above me a mechanical bull stares down, still mercilessly rotating as if goading me for my inevitable failure to remain on its back. The lights of camera phones glare, like a vigil for my fall. I force my eyes open and as the world comes to, I happily realise I’m at my local Chabad, taking part in an incredible Purim evening.
Once described as the ‘most uncoordinated person I have ever met’ by a krav-maga teacher, my decision to ride the (dignity-destroying) mechanical bull was clearly ill-advised, but I feel this is softened by the brilliant decision to journey to Rabbi Shmuli Brown and his wife Tzivia’s Chabad house for what was a wonderful evening. Many hours had clearly been spent preparing; the whole front-room converted into a Wild-West style saloon, complete with the aforementioned mechanical bull in the garden. Another fundamental aspect to any Chabad occasion is the food, and huge thanks must go to Tzivia for providing a feast, as large and tasty as ever. While we were catered for physically, Rabbi Brown, provided spirituality with a Megillah reading complete with all the relevant pantomime boos and hisses.
The costumes were as eclectic, imaginative and surreal as ever. Like a mad-haters party at the end of time; A monkey sat next to a crash test dummy. Bob the builder discussed the guacamole dip with a fairy and finally, four different alcoholic beverages (in a almost cannibalistic feat) shared an oversized bottle of vodka with a cute-adult cow.”
For more info on Chabad of Liverpool Universities www.ulivchabad.org or follow on twitter @UniRabbi
looks like an awesome purim party!
it looks rly cute!!:)
very very impressed!!! you are an inspiration to all campus rabbis!! lots of success! victor