Girls make Purim care packages for GIs
Kate Tucci
Special to The Journal News
February 11, 2008 01:02 AM

WESLEY HILLS - Bat mitzvahs aren't always grand events that rival weddings. They can be occasions for giving back too. Leah Fuerst, her friends and family yesterday were busy celebrating her upcoming birthday and making care packages for Jewish soldiers stationed overseas.

Leah, 11, of New Hempstead and her mother, Sara Fuerst, were trying to decide what to do for Leah's bat mitzvah and they thought sending care packages to American Jewish soldiers who will not be home for Purim would be a good way to give back.

"When a girl becomes a woman at the age of 12, we want to teach them one good deed. Because we are close to the holiday of Purim, we thought it would be a nice thing to send to the Jewish soldiers in Iraq," said Sara Fuerst.

Leah will turn 12 on Tuesday.

Leah's mother contacted West Point, where she was put in touch with the Jewish Welfare Board, who in turn helped to connect her with Jewish soldiers overseas. The care packages will also be sent to soldiers in other countries including Japan, Kuwait, South Korea and Afghanistan, she said.

About 40 girls gathered at L'Chaim Manor in the Wesley Kosher Plaza to assemble the packages, which consisted of items like Sudoku books, tissues, candy, body lotion, calendars and pamphlets explaining the holiday of Purim.

"My friends were very excited for this project," said Leah.

Accompanying the packages were also letters the preteen girls had been writing to the soldiers expressing their gratitude and wishing them health and happiness, and a Happy Purim. Cookies will be added to the packages before they are sent in 10 days to two weeks, said Leah's mother.

"It's a very nice thing we are all doing to show that we care. Maybe I want to do something like this for my bat mitzvah," said Moriah Berg, 11, of Monsey, a schoolmate of Leah's.

Purim, which this year falls on March 20 and 21, is one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the survival of the Jewish people of Persia after Haman, an adviser to King Achashverosh, ordered the execution of all Jews in the kingdom. The king falls in love with a beautiful Jewish girl, Esther, who begs the king to spare the lives of the Jews. Haman is hanged, and a new decree is issued, giving the Jews permission to defend themselves against those who wish them harm.

"These soldiers are almost in the same terra firma to oust another terrible human being, Saddam Hussein," said party guest David Lichtenstein of Wesley Hills.

"It's fitting on Purim that they should be getting packages in the same part of the world."

Leah's mother said the most important thing is to make people aware of what they can do to help.

Lazer Fuerst of Boyton Beach, Fla., Leah's grandfather, agreed. "It's nice that people are aware and involved with the troops in Iraq. They are away from home around the holiday and this helps bring them holiday cheer," he said.

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