Men's Club at the CAI Purim Festival

The CAI Men's Club played a very active part in the synagogue's Purim Festival on Sunday, March 8th. Our job actually started on Saturday night, March 7th, when we helped set up, build and paint carnival booths for this annual event. Heading out for liquid refreshment at the CloverLeaf afterwards was ample incentive to do some heavy lifting. (It should be mentioned that the Men's Club, as well as all CAI committees, took a two-year hiatus from this event due to the renovation project.) Games, new and old, were put on display, like the famous Win-a-Fish ping-pong game (where we only lost about four goldfish over the two days) and Hang Haman, where you have to knock a Satan doll off its chair so that it be hung in effigy. Violent? Yes, but we're talkin' 'bout Haman here. A hearty yasher koach to all who helped out on Erev Carnival, but especially to our foreman Mike Chaiet (pictured at left with Steve Jacobs) who pushed through some back pain to lead the construction.

On Sunday, it was "go" time.

The Men's Club, as it always does, did its best damage in the kitchen. Two shifts of grillmeisters flipped burgers, dogs and veggie burgers for the hungry crowd. With the help of cashiers Alan Gerberg (pictured) and Harvey Hershkowitz, we "moved meat", and scored some profits for the Men's Club.

Kitchen captains Jay Baranker and Michael Simon should be commended with running a tight, clean kitchen. Steve Eitman, Randy Krasner, Mitch Gladstein and Harvey Schenker also get a tip of the Hammantaschen as their grillmanship was top notch. (Make sure to swing by next year to sample Steve's new experi-, I mean, dish, which is being called everything from Mordechai's Mish-Mash to Haman's Revenge.

We look forward to participating in next year's Purim Festival with its new attractions...and recipes. Thanks to all who volunteered, and to the CAI Sisterhood, for spearheading this grand event.