Westfield Resident Calls All Women to Be “Queens” for the Day

Queen Esther has long been revered as the heroine of the Purim story. Women of all ages are invited to celebrate their illustrious ancestor and learn how they, too, can dress like a Persian queen at the 5th Annual Queen Esther Tea (QET), said Joanie Schwarz of Westfield, a member of the QET planning committee.

Sponsored by Women’s Philanthropy (WP) Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the intergenerational festive event is a wonderful opportunity for women from Elizabeth, West Orange, Hillside, Livingston, Westfield, and every town in and around the Greater MetroWest community to meet each other. The program will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 3, at the YM-YWHA of Union, 501 Green Lane.

"This is such a nice way to begin preparing for Purim. We can come together to celebrate the strength and uniqueness of women, while still having a great time! How exciting it will be to see women from the Greater MetroWest area bond over our interest in fashion. We can be Queens for a day!" said Faith Fisch of Hillside and Sharon Zwickler of West Orange, Queen Esther Tea co-chairs.

“I look forward to meeting generations of women throughout the community at this exciting event. Come learn more about Women’s Philanthropy while enjoying a lovely brunch and fashion show,” added Debra H. Levenstein, Federation’s new development officer for Women’s Philanthropy. Levenstein will be based in the Regional Office in Scotch Plains.

The highlight of the morning will be the Frock Swap, a fashion show and trunk show and sale of designer consignment clothing. Geared to women of all backgrounds, fashion consultants Simi Polonsky and Chaya Chanin will teach the audience how to add designer flair to fashionable, modest dress. Ten percent of all proceeds will benefit Women’s Philanthropy.

Committee members include Leah Greenblum, Ruth Kolb and Renee Krul, Elizabeth; Tara Speyer, Hillside; Dara Orbach, Livingston; Andrea Bier, Alisha Blugrind, Randee Rubenstein, Michal Strauss, Shaina Weitz, West Orange; and Joanie Schwarz, Westfield.

The couvert of $18 includes the fashion show and kosher dairy brunch. There will also be raffles for great prizes. Reservations are requested by Monday, January 28. RSVPs can be made online at www.jfedgmw.org/qet or by contacting Levenstein at dlevenstein@jfedgmw.org or (908) 288-2427.

Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ (Federation) stands at the center of a network of partner agencies dedicated to providing comprehensive social services and meeting the educational, vocational, recreational, and social needs of Jews locally, in Israel, and in 70 countries around the world. Responding to emergency and disaster situations around the world is another important part of the Federation mission.