Early Purim at Panthers Game

(Published at www.Lubavitch.com)

At the NHL’s Florida Panthers hockey game this past Sunday, all 15,685 fans learned something Jewish.

Fans celebrated at a pre-game pre-Purim bash hosted by South Florida Chabad Centers at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, with free video games, pony rides, face painting, a giant inflatable slide and an obstacle course. Jewish music filled the air, jugglers and clowns entertained, around Purim themes.

Free t-shirts sporting the team mascot and the words Happy Purim across the front were distributed free to fans. Seeing people on the concourse wearing the shirts, Rabbi Andrusier engaged them in conversation. “I met several people who were unaware that Purim was approaching. In fact, I met folks who had never even heard of the holiday altogether,” he said.

Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, co-director of Chabad of Southwest Broward County was invited on the ice to take the ceremonial “slapshot.”

The traditional hockey-broom-ball game, played pregame, sported teams of clowns vs. rabbis. Neither team scored, but the roaring applause signaled the crowd’s approval.

Rabbi Levi Chanowitz, director of Chabad of Sunrise said the event was successful if “people leave here and choose to observe Purim.”

Local singing sensation, Yisroel Amar, delivered his rendition of G-d Bless America followed by the stadium’s first ever Purim masquerade. Twelve costume-clad finalists were aired on the big screen and the crowd’s applause and cheering served as the judge.

During the intermission Cypress Bay High School junior, Josh Appel excitedly posted on Twitter, “Chabad Rabbis vs. the Purim clowns during intermission. Panther hockey!” Appel, 16, is a season ticket holder and attends many games. He was surprised to see Chabad rabbison the ice.”

“It was a nice gesture by the Panthers organization to recognize Purim and people of the Jewish faith” said Appel who admitted that the event was his first encounter with Chabad. “It's too bad that the team couldn't pull through with a win to cap off the night,” he joked.

Mackie Feierstein, Director of Group Sales and Youth Hockey for the Panthers said he reached out to Rabbi Andrusier after seeing the success of the Rabbi’s Chanukah event with the Miami Heat.

“I believe this was just the start of a long lasting relationship between not only Chabad, but the entire Jewish community and the Florida Panthers hockey club,” Feierstein said. He looks forward to working together more often in the future.

“These events and programs will only grow in the upcoming years.”