Chabad opens Moorpark chapter
Purim event on March 20 welcomes community

Rabbi Shimon and Devorah Heidingsfeld are moving to Moorpark to establish a local Chabad chapter. They will host a Community Purim Celebration at 7 p.m. Thurs., March 20 at the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark.

The service is open to all Jews of all ages, regardless of affiliation or background, and will feature arts and crafts, multimedia game show, refreshments, children's masquerade party and an interactive Megilla reading (the Biblical book of Ester).

On Purim, Jewish people exchange gifts of delicacies and drinks, aid the poor and feast on dishes cooked with wine.

The holiday celebrates an incident of palace intrigue in ancient Persia which almost resulted in the annihilation of the Jews during the reign of King Achashverosh. The Jews survived because of their unity and commitment to their identity as a practicing Jewish community.

Chabad is an educational and social service organization with more than 200 centers in California and 3,500 synagogues, schools and centers worldwide.

Chabad states that its mission is to create vibrancy in small Jewish communities and assist them in celebrating Jewish heritage and traditions.

For more information, call the Heidingsfelds at (805) 807-8684 or send an e-mail to JewishMoorpark@gmail.com or visit www.JewishMoorpark.com.