Tonight Hillel becomes part casino, part Shushan as Temple’s students gather with others to celebrate Purim. Hillel teamed up with AEPi to plan and execute the event, which will feature casino games, mocktails, contests and the traditional Purim pastries, hamentashen.
Rachel Surden was in charge of the event’s planning that began as soon as the students returned from winter break, and she says, “I suggested the theme, and after everyone’s approval, we got started on putting it into action.”
The second floor of Hillel will become a casino with various games including, poker, blackjack, and roulette, and even host two professional dealers. There will, of course, be no real gambling, but plenty of betting chips to keep the night rolling, nonetheless.
The first floor, Surden said, will be “draped in colorful and flowing fabric, emulating the markets and tents of Shushan.”
The party will also feature a 50/50 drawing, and Hillel will raffle off various donated items and gift certificates. The proceeds of these contests will be donated, along with the five dollar cover charge, to a charity to be chosen by the party guests, in the Purim tradition of giving charity.
As for the costume tradition, Surden says, “if the guests are feeling rather gutsy and want to dress up, we are certainly encouraging that!”
The party will be held tonight between nine p.m. and midnight at Hillel, located at 2014 North Broad street, across from the Johnson and Hardwick dorms.