Dozens of residents of Gush Etzion came to the Oz veGaon Preserve for a joint reading of the Megillah organized by Women in Green.

At the Megillah reading, the first ever at the site, participated Davidi Perl, head of the Gush Etzion local council, and Helen Freedman, head of AFSI 9Americans for a Safe Israel)

Dr. David Matar, the reader of the Megillah, presented the passages of the Megillah, emphasizing every passage and word having relevance to current events.
The audience responded with special enthusiasm to the reference of how Mordechai the Jew stood erect without submitting and did not bow; the inescapable association being to the prime minister’s trip to speak before the American Congress.

At the end of the reading a musical band from Hevron played a series of Purim songs and hot soup was offered to break the fast.

“All of those present experienced an atmosphere of elation, a sense of dignity and strong national stance that will bring the Almighty’s great deliverance, G-d willing, today as it was in the past”, say the event’s organizers, and add that “in every generation there are those who dedicate their lives or their careers to saving the People of Israel. This is indeed a great risk and the price could be enormous but what is a life of exile or life with an exilic character worth?” they ask, and answer: “with the help of the Almighty, and thanks to courageous leadership, Israel’s star is rising in the world”.

Later in the evening there was another reading of the Megillah by Rav Tachover, which was broadcast live on Reshet Moreshet.

In the morning as well, dozens came to Oz veGaon for the Megillah reading read by Dr. Wilshanski from Elazar. The tent that serves as a synagogue was too small for the number of people, so the prayer was held in the entrance area.

G-d willing, may there be many more events and celebrations in Oz veGaon!
And for the Jews there was light and joy and splendor

Attached are pictures of the photographer Gershon Ellinson.

Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar