Celebrating Together

The Aguda's dinners are not a thing of the ordinary - neither are the participants. This year we've seen all colors of the rainbow, the old and the young, the gay and the straight…old members and new additions. So what have we had this year?

According to Gonen, an Aguda member and volunteer, who has been coming to these dinners for a while: "Many tend to think that those who attend these dinners are in need and this is one reason I chose to come this year- to show that being a part of the Aguda is being a part of a family".
Some look for asylum, others choose to relate. Charles Arthur James, an active volunteer at the Aguda, recounts "I've been participating at the holiday dinners for the previous 4 years. I've initially heard about them at the Bar Noar center after I was kicked out of home and have been coming to the dinners ever since. Today I can return to my parent's house for dinner, but I still choose to come here instead - something about the open and relaxed atmosphere… where you can talk about everything. It has been really great." Another Aguda member since 1976, Michelle, is a regular at Holiday dinners, and claims that over the years "the Aguda and its activities have become an integral part of my life".
The Aguda's Holiday dinners have been taking place over the past 16 years during Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. Every year, thousands of the community members join us for dinner, thanks to generous contributions from businesses, volunteers, and beautiful individuals from inside and outside of the community. Daniel Marioma, Volunteer, co-organizer of the holiday dinners, "these dinners give a sense of home. And for someone who never had home-cooked holiday dinners, I realize how important these are".