Michael-Ann Russell JCC Volunteers bring Good Taste to Verbena Purim Carnival!

Jan. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- The rides, the Tombola, the entertainers, the crowds of happy faces and of course, the terrific food. Like most large-scale events, it takes a savvy, high-energy group of dedicated people to run the show. All of the items mentioned above don’t just appear out of thin air. It takes a lot of hard work, organization, and many, many hours, day and night, making sure everything is set to run smoothly and without a hitch.

Silvia Assor is one of those people who is an integral part of making things happen every year. Silvia began volunteering her time 7 years ago at the Maccabi Games by helping to coordinate the many components of the event. Since then, she has continued to volunteer and utilize her talents on a broader scale, not only at the Maccabi Games, but also at the Verbena Purim Carnival.

A carnival wouldn’t be a carnival without certain foods we associate with it, and Verbena is certainly no exception to this rule. The warm, sweet scent of arepas and paninis being toasted to a golden brown, the savory scent of hot dogs roasting on a grill, along side sizzling burgers and cheesy pizza, all tell-tale signs you are not just at any carnival, you are at the Michael-Ann Russell JCC Verbena Purim Carnival!

All of these mouth watering items along with a plethora of other delectable delights would not be made possible without the hard work of Silvia, and a dedicated group of volunteers who devote their time and efforts to make this event successful. “There is a tremendous amount of work involved just in the food preparation alone” Silvia explained, “And each year we try to do something different, to make Verbena special, and we are always open to hearing new ideas”, she added. “I love seeing the excitement in the faces of the children, to me that is the most rewarding part of this event and the reason I devote so much of my time”.

Three to four thousand people will attend the Verbena to celebrate the affirmation of when good triumphs over evil as we remember King Ahaseuvarus; Haman, the Wicked Minister; the beautiful Queen Esther; and Esther’s Uncle Mordechai.  Included during the day are Megillah readings and a Purim “Seuda.” Many children will come dressed up this year as these colorful characters and enter into a costume contest. Additionally, after the carnival concludes at 5pm, there will be a Rikudim (Israeli) dance performance which is “a great way to close out the day and something the parents and grandparents truly enjoy” continued Sylvia, “Also something new this year is a Teen Party on the Saturday night prior to Verbena. “We really listened to what the kids wanted and added this segment for the older kids to enjoy.”

“We need more volunteers and would be grateful to anyone who can devote just a few hours to an event that brings so much joy and festive spirit to our JCC,”  Silvia said with a smile! If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact Diani Azout, at 305-932-4200 x119 or Silvia Assor at 305-496-0395.

# # #

The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center/Sanford L. Ziff Campus is dedicated to the enrichment of Jewish life and fosters the emotional, physical, and intellectual development of its individual members through all of life’s stages and circumstances. The MAR-JCC represents a model of acceptance, understanding and diversity. As such, people look at the MAR-JCC as a center of excellence that epitomizes how shared Jewish values support a vibrant and evolving constituency. The MAR-JCC is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the United Way of Miami-Dade County, and a member of the Jewish Community Center Association of North America.