Purim and a Song for the IDF

Okay, this is really cool.  Today, at our Fellowship, we had our annual Purim celebration...complete with 24 girls dressed as Esther (Belle was one of those...Moo was "the burning bush" LOL), the reading of the book of Esther, and lots of fun and food.  But we also had a visit from soldiers in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), who are touring the United States on a mission of goodwill and for the purpose of sharing stories that you don't often hear about from the mainstream media coverage of what is happening over in Israel.  It was a great time.

Vita is a Christian who turned away from a prosperous career in Manhattan when she felt the call to go to work for Stand With Us, an organization who wants to share the truth about Israel in the midst of her battle to justify not only her right to defend herself, but her very existance.

Orit is a religious Jewish Israeli woman who serves on the frontline as a medic.

Drew is a firecracker of a woman, originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, who gave up her dream of becoming a cantor in order to serve her Jewish homeland and "make a difference".

Both girls spoke with Orit after her and Drew's presentations.

Earlier in the night, there was time for posing in costume.

Moo and her friend Abigail tied for first in the costume contest 13-19 category.   That blur to the right is Miss Becky, who did a great job as emcee.

Moo with sweet friends, Lydia and Abigail.

Okay...the coolest part--our congregational leader unexpectedly brought the girls up to the front at the end of the service to, in his words, "give a gift" to the ladies of the IDF.  He asked them to sing Ose Shalom, a beautiful song in Hebrew very well known to the Jewish people.  The words translated are: May He who makes peace in His heights, make peace for us and all Israel, and let us say Amen.

Here is just a small video snippet:

The ladies were quite blessed, and we all were just thrilled at the chance to bless those who have given their time and lives to serve the people and land of Israel. Truly, a high point in our lives.