1982-1983 Rothberg Yearbook

NIETIVCT
I awoke to the piercing sound o f my alarm clock; the hour was 6:30 am and the day
was February 28th. . . Purim. As the beep-beep o f m y alarm echoed through the hallways
o f Resnick 3, I debated whether it was worth dragging myself out o f bed after retiring only
a few hours prior. Purim eve — singing, dancing and partying — had rapped my energy
supply, but because this holiday only came once a year, I had no choice but to meet the
challenge o f emerging from bed. M y destination on this fine Purim day was Netivot, a development
town in the Negev that was sponsoring a festival for residents o f development towns
and other groups from all over the country. That crazy gang from the O SA office had
insisted that a costume was mandatory, so on went the Popeye outfit — hat, sailor shirt,
pipe and muscles — and out the door I flew to catch the Hebrew U Express to Netivot.
Once we hit the road, there was no turning back! A crazy fella grabbed his make-up
bag and proceded to attack all those who had forgotten their costumes in haste to make the
bus on time! Ha! In a matter o f minutes, our group o f 20 had been transformed into a gang
o f vivacious clowns, gruesome punk-rockers, and mysterious monsters. Yes, these were the
people that would represent Hebrew University at this nationwide festival — a m otley crew
to say the least! Netivot was a scene o f mass confusion — people in costume running in
every direction, buses arriving, children singing — not knowing where to turn, we were
guided to our proper places.. . Wait, our proper places. .. what was going on? ? .. . Oh, o f
course, weren’t we told, they said! We were marching in a parade, while being filmed for a
movie about Hebrew University’s Overseas Students! And so we marched, singing and smiling
for the camera, waving to the people hanging from their windows and standing at their front
doors, carrying our banner ever so proudly and directing our mascot (a gullible soul who
wore a paper mache monster head that made normal vision impossible!). A fter this unexpected
tour o f the town by foot, we settled down for a program which consisted o f dance
groups, rock-n-roll bands, mime, and Israeli dancing, involving EVERYO N E , young and old
alike! The festive spirit was in the air and everyone was caught up in it!. I was glad that my
conscience had forced me to arise from bed hours earlier. As I looked around, I saw various
groups interacting, laughing, and celebrating together — a feeling o f man prevailed. The
end o f the day brought a surprise V IC T O R Y for Hebrew University! In the Purim costume
contest stole the show by collecting first and second prizes! A t 3 pm, that m otley bunch o f
Purim partiers loaded the bus once again — destination: Jerusalem. A n unusual yet fulfilling
Purim experience in Netivot had come to an end and it was time to return to rea ty.
Debbie Korn
Rutgers University