"For Shuvu Banim There Was Light and Gladness" • A Spectacular Photo Gallery from the Purim Celebrations

Anyone who desires to rejoice with true Purim joy knows to come to the courtyard of the King's house—our Shuvu Banim Beis Midrash. As in every year, this Purim 5786, the "Shuvu Banim community" fulfilled the joy of Purim with a splendor unmatched anywhere else in the world.

So that the joy of Purim will endure in every generation and the salvation of the 'Shuvu Banim' community will be eternal, the musical production was led by the singer R' Natan Marian, may Hashem protect and sustain him, with R' Natan Gudes on the keyboards. They were accompanied with great emotion by R' Nachman Druck on the clarinet and R' Natan Raz on the saxophone.

The wine feast and dancing began at 4:30 PM, following Mincha Gedolah (the early afternoon prayer) in the Beis Midrash. All the while, more and more of Anash (members of our community) streamed in from Jerusalem and beyond. Wine was distributed to the dancers to continue fulfilling the mitzvah of the day. There is no doubt that such joy cannot be found anywhere else; in accordance with the will of The Rav shlit"a, the people were mevusamim (uplifted by wine) but not drunk, and the joy was a true, boundary-breaking joy, completely devoid of any frivolity or wildness.

Approaching 9:30 PM, when the plaza was already packed with thousands of dancers, they began singing soulful, emotional songs. The entire Shuvu Banim community placed their arms around one another in a wondrous and inspiring display of unity. The climax was the singing of 'Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael...' (Our brothers, the entire House of Israel...) and 'Ani Ma'amin B'Emunah Sheleimah B'Viat HaMashiach...' (I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Mashiach...). Even the most inebriated person could not remain indifferent to this deeply moving sight.

Shortly after 10:30 PM, The Rav shlit"a emerged onto the balcony of his home, dressed in golden garments and wrapped in his tallis, for the Maariv (evening) prayer at the conclusion of the holy day of Purim. The joy doubled in intensity, and the gladness burst forth with even greater vigor as the crowd sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik U'LeYishrei Lev Simcha" (Light is sown for the tzaddik, and joy for the upright of heart). After long minutes of singing and dancing, the Maariv prayer continued, followed by a fiery Torah class, as takes place every evening, with the participation of thousands of people.

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