Singer Discovers Jewish Roots

This year marking 60 years of the Rebbe’s leadership and 20 years of Shluchim in Kharkov – a special grandiose Purim program took place Sunday in the local circus arena.

Costumes and masks greeted the crowd in the foyer, while hundreds of brochures, Shabbos candles and Mishloach Manos were given out and hundreds of men and boys put on Tefillin, some for the first time in their lives.

Following a Purim Spiel by the Ohr Avner Day School, the Megilla was read by Shliach Rabbi Levi Raices – who’s costume this year was a doctor.

Every “Haman” had a new surprise as clowns came from all over and even “Prime Minister Yanukovich” and “Former Prime Minister Yulya Timoshenko” came in to join the Purim spirit.

Head Shliach and Kharkov’s Cheif Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz encouraged the audience to take upon themselves more Mitzvos and make a special effort to join more in the Jewish community’s activities.

Government officials Yaroslav Petrovich Yushenko and Alexander Lvovich Steren spoke of the miracle and joy of Purim and how the city is proud of the Jewish community and the synagogue.

Other speakers were Israeli consul Alex Kleiman, Alexander Kaganovsky, President of the synagogue and Grigory Shochet, Director of the Ohr Avner School.

The acrobats and clowns , the sea lions and the animals – all made the show unforgettable.

A special surprise was Armenian singer Gary Satyan, well known for his strong bass voice.

Several days before Purim, Satyan was speaking to a member of the Jewish community and heard that a person is matrilineally a Jew by birth and that he in fact a Jew.

“He came to the Shul on Taanit Esther, put on Tefillin for the first time in his life and asked Rabbi Moskovitz if he could give a present – and sing for the first time in his life a Jewish song on Purim at the circus,” one of the Shluchim reported.

Satyan quickly learned a potpourri of Jewish songs and surprised the crowd with a performance at the circus.

“After the circus he joined over 100 men in a very lively Purim meal in the Shul and said a L’Chaim, thanking Hashem for showing him the way home.”