Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU Hosts A Night at the Museum

A Celebration of the Pageantry of Purim

Paul Drucker, Ellie Ganz, Steven Berwick, Elaine Bloom, JMOF-FIU Advisory Board Chair Elliot Stone, Jo Ann Arnowitz, and Bonnie Sockel-Stone

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU (JMOF-FIU) hosted its annual festive event, A Night at the Museum: A Celebration of the Pageantry of Purim. This year, JMOF-FIU guests enjoyed a delightful cocktail reception with delectable hors d’oeuvres, while listening to a string trio of FIU Students. Throughout the evening, partygoers dressed up with masks, hats, boas, signs and other props to take fun keepsake photo strips, in the style of the old time photo booths. After cocktails, an elegant three-course dinner was served, with dĂ©cor featuring centerpieces highlighted with unique artistic masks, and party favors of feathered masks and groggers (noisemakers). Everyone found opportunities to meet and mingle with new and long-time friends, as they capped off the evening together with the sweetness of the traditional Purim hamentaschen cookies.

Celebrating the triumph of good over evil and the survival of the Jewish people in the face of destruction, the story of Purim exemplifies the shared experience of ethnic discrimination, when nearly 2,600 years ago in Shusan, Persia, the King’s advisor, Haman, developed an evil plot to get rid the Jewish people. Courageously, Queen Esther spoke out on behalf of her fellow Jews to

Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales and FIU President Mark Rosenberg
save them from annihilation. In Florida, the tradition of festive events in honor of Purim began in Jacksonville in 1880, followed by Pensacola, Tallahassee and Key West. The Jewish Museum of Florida established the tradition of our own signature event with our inaugural Ball in 2000.

Next year’s event will be extra special…In celebration of the Museum’s 20th Anniversary, 50th Anniversary of FIU’s founding and 100th Anniversary of the City of Miami Beach, JMOF-FIU will host a formal gala and chic after-party that is not to be missed! For 2015 sponsorship opportunities, please contact the JMOF-FIU Development Department: development@jewishmuseum.com or 786-972-3162.

THANK YOU to all of the generous Sponsors for making this fabulous event possible! Proceeds from the event are used to support the collections, exhibitions and public education programs of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU.

Gold Benefactor: Applebaum Foundation – Leila Applebaum and MariLyn & Herbert Potash

The festive dining room

Bronze Underwriters: Samuel I. Adler Family Foundation; Harold & Ellie Aibel; Barbara & Kenneth Bloom/ Norman & Sylvia Levine; Hazel Cypen and Family; Helene & Murray Dubbin and Family; Florida international University and the FIU Foundation, Inc.; Honey & Ira Giller/ Barbara & Leonard Wien; David Posnak Foundation; Riemer Insurance Group; Elliot N. & Bonnie Sockel-Stone; Jonathan Symons; UBS Financial Services Gouraige/Kaplan/Ravinet Team; Marcia Jo & Elliott Zerivitz

In-Kind Supporters: Over the Top Rental Party Linens; Kenneth Stubbs/Kobayashi; Sir Speedy Printing; Southern Wine & Spirits; Executive Caterers

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