Community leaders issue sobering Purim warning
WITH Purim approaching, community leaders have issued a warning to parents and children about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
DALIA SABLE
WITH Purim approaching, community leaders have once again issued a warning to parents and children about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
The sobering reminder is particularly pertinent with the eve of the festival this year falling on a Saturday.
“With the approach of Purim, we are very concerned to ensure that everyone in our community — be it parents, schools, rabbis or community leaders do their utmost to ensure the youth appreciate the dangers of under-age drinking,” said John Searle, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
“The responsibility, I think, is shared by all those groups to not only give the right message, but to also set the right example by their actions.”
President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) Rabbi Yaakov Glasman issued a firm statement to member rabbis, urging affiliates to address the matter in their weekly sermons. The RCV statement referred to the notion of celebrating Purim by excessive drinking as “unfounded”.
“The RCV wishes to … make it abundantly clear to all members of the Jewish community, particularly Jewish teenagers and young adults, that excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to endangering one’s life or the life of others, as well as the possibility of the chilul Hashem [desecration of God’s name] often associated with intoxication, is unequivocally prohibited at all times according to halachah, including on Purim,” the statement read.
“We strongly caution adults and youth leaders against the misguided practice of supplying alcohol to minors with the belief that this somehow constitutes the mitzvah of spreading joy during the festival of Purim.”
Brad Hampel, event planner and organiser of the annual “Puzza” Purim party for Jewish high-school students, stressed he is doing all he can to ensure a safe party for youngsters.
“We are taking all possible measures to provide a fun, safe environment for all attending,” Hampel said. “The onus is on parents to ensure their children are not drinking prior to arriving. They should drop their children off and watch them walk into the party, and then pick them up again at the end of the night.
“We have zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs.”
Hampel said all partygoers will be searched and screened by a metal detector upon arrival. Anyone intoxicated will be turned away and once inside, students will not be allowed out and back in again. About 1000 are expected to attend, with the proceeds of the event to be donated to the March of the Living program.