The Masked Meaning of Purim - Wexner Heritage Village
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February 12, 2021 – 30 Sh’vat 5781
The Masked Meaning of Purim
Jewry, which was influenced by the save lives during COVID-19.
Roman carnival at the end of the 15th However, the pandemic has made us
century. hibernate, hide in a way, as the
During this past year, we have all been wearing of masks protects against the
mandated to wear masks to stop the spread of the virus but also hides our
spread of COVID-19. Purim Carnivals faces. The masks, if worn correctly,
Masks and silly costumes, just will not be the same this year as cover most of the face, from the chin
hamantaschen, performances, clever large groups of people gathering to the tip of your nose. At times, this
songs, spiked drinks, noise makers, together is not possible. Even if some makes it harder to recognize people
and beads, OH MY! Purim has chose to dress up, we still must be we know. The wearing of masks saves
developed into a rowdy and fun safely masked. Though the story lives, so we must work just a bit
celebration when we retell the story suggests that Esther had to conceal harder to hear people, to see facial
of Jewish survival originating in the her identity to protect her life, she expressions, read the room in order
Book of Esther. This year the festival unveils the mask in order to show her to accept, recognize, and welcome
of Purim is celebrated on February husband, the King, her true identity as people in our communities.
25-26. On the Hebrew calendar, a Jew and save The costume wearing and the nature
Purim is on the 14th day of Adar. her people. of masks during Purim reminds our
Probably sometime in the 2nd century The tradition of community of the fragility of life. Just
BCE, Purim was celebrated by certain wearing as the costume wearing is temporary
Jewish communities, but was not costumes and during Purim, hopefully, one day, our
observed by the wider Jewish world masks relates society will be mask free once again
until the early Middle Ages. The Purim very much to the need to hide one’s without fear of the spread of life
Shpeil (performance) and dressing up identity during unsafe times for Jewish shortening illnesses. As we celebrate
in costumes became more common in people. Purim this year, it is hard not to reflect
the mid-1500s throughout Ashkenazi on this mask phenomenon.
Jewry and some say is the only original As the Jewish people feel safe and
folk theatre surviving thousands of empowered to observe Jewish rituals,
years originating in Europe. Along the masks, the costumes, the freedom Chag Purim Sameach,
with the performances, historians to celebrate is the true celebration of
identity and tradition. This makes me Rabbi Debbie Lefton, Director of
suggest that the wearing of costumes
think very much of mask wearing to Spiritual Care, WHV
and masks originated within Italian
WHV is excited to join with our Jewish community partners in the Life & Legacy
planned giving program, through the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Thank you to
our friends who have generously included WHV in their planned giving through
gifts in their will, life insurance policy or retirement funds! These gifts help assure
the future of WHV for generations to come. If you would like to learn more about
planned giving to WHV or other Jewish agencies, please contact Leslie Fulford at
lfulford@whv.org, (614) 559-0268 or visit whv.org/Give.
WHV GETS THE VACCINE! Residents & staff do their part to stop COVID-19!
BIRTHDAYS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AND MORE
Happy Birthday, Margaret! Shirley enjoying a root beer Happy New Year, Florence! Happy Birthday, Bernie!
float at Creekside!
Cyril’s artwork New Year’s dance at the Cottage! Ringing in 2021! Balloon toss!
Join us for Purim Dance class at The Cottage
@WHV!
Wednesday, February 17th
Interactive Purim class with
Rabbi Lefton, campus wide
Thursday, February 25th
Rabbi Lefton & Cindy Leland
perform their Purim Spiel to
old time music favorites.
Thank You!
Ocean sunset dreams! Wexner Service Corp teens made and donated these beautiful paintings to
Heritage House residents, helping to brighten each of their rooms. A great escape from winter snow!
WHV staff and families donated winter coats, Holiday card donations from our Jewish Day School students donated the
scarves, gloves, and non-perishable food to friends at IGS Energy cutest menorahs ever!
the Bishop Griffin Resource Center & Food Thank you to Estelle Grossman, who
Pantry as part of our seasonal mitzvah project donated challah rolls from the Torah Center
to support those in the community who need to all WHV campus residents on Shabbat in
a helping hand. Thank you to all who gave so loving memory of her husband and Heritage
generously! House resident, Neal Grossman.
The WHV van was filled to the ceiling!
PAINTING AT THE COTTAGE
Farewell, Liana!!
Staff
After 29 years at WHV, Registered Nurse,
Zusman Hospice
Spotlight
Liana Meskhi, plans to retire on February 20. Zusman Hospice, under new Executive Director, Jason Hill
Liana has been a treasured member of and Clinical Director, Talitha Berfield, has started an
the WHV family since 3/13/1992! After employee recognition program called R.A.L.L.Y., which
decades of dedicated service, this RN has stands for:
earned some much needed rest and R- REBUILDING
relaxation! Liana is known for her caring A- ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING
ways, kindness, poise and ability to
L- LISTENING
handle any situation that comes her way
with grace, something co-workers and L- LEADING
residents appreciate about her. Y- YEVE AND YIELD (GIVING AND GETTING)
Said fellow nurse leader, Danielle Leonard, “Liana is detail Our hospice team is made up of special, caring people who
oriented and always sees the big picture. She helps new enhance every moment of a patient and family’s end of life
nurses and teaches them to multi-task and handle experience. R.A.L.L.Y. helps recognize those who go above
emergency situations with calm and grace. Her patients all and beyond.
love her and she is a true role model, leader and team
player. She will be very missed.” Please help us congratulate our
We are extremely grateful for Liana’s service and thank her first Zusman Hospice R.A.L.L.Y.
for being a vital member of our team for so many years! employee of the month, social
You will truly be missed, Liana, and will forever be a part of worker, Elise Gembarski!!
the WHV family! Elise has made a big impact in her
short time at WHV and now splits her
A New Bundle of Joy! time between Zusman Hospice and
Creekside at the Village, where she
Congratulations to Ashley Evans, has started a weekly grief support
Administrative Support Manager, and her group.
husband, Jayson, on the birth of their Elise grew up in Brunswick, Ohio, near Cleveland, and
beautiful son, Crue Hayes Evans! graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2018
The photogenic Crue entered the world with a bachelor’s degree in social work, becoming a
December 28th at a healthy 6 pounds, Licensed Social Worker that June. She went
15 ounces and 20” long. on to receive her master’s in social work in
We think Ashley is a rock star! She joined May 2020. Elise’s journey with Zusman
the WHV family in June providing vital Hospice began as an intern in January 2019,
admissions support through the COVID-19 was hired PRN the following year then
safety protocols, while navigating a became a full-time employee in October
pandemic pregnancy, giving birth and returning to WHV in 2020. At home, Elise has a cat named
January! Veronica and a bulldog named Jase. Both she
Crue joins big sisters, Hadley and Maddyn in the Evans family. claims are “the laziest, most dramatic animals
Welcome baby Crue! I’ve ever met.”
JOIN US! For more pictures and WHV updates, please follow us Gembarski shared, “Zusman Hospice has
on Facebook and our websites, www.whv.org and provided so many opportunities for me to
creeksideatthevillage.org! For COVID specific updates, visit our grow as a social worker and I’m so proud
COVID-19 page. Have a story or photos to share? Contact Leslie to be part of this amazing team!”
Fulford at lfulford@whv.org. We’d love to hear from you! Zusman Hospice Executive Director, Jason Hill, said, “We
VISITATION are so fortunate to have Elise on our team and in our WHV
While we are suspending traditional visitation, we do encourage family! From her work with hospice patients and families, to
window or digital visits through FaceTime and Zoom! To schedule
window visits at Heritage House, please call (614) 230-1533. her time with Creekside members, she has done an amazing
For window visits at Creekside, please call (614) 559-5500. job assisting all with needed and wanted community
For window visits at The Cottage, please email Laurie at resources.”
lgang@whv.org.
Superior care for those we are honored to serve
614-231-4900 | www.whv.org
WexnerHeritageVillage
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