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HOLIDAY: Jewish temple hosts Christmas bingo
TOWN OF TONAWANDA -- When people think of Christmas traditions,
many things come to mind: twinkling lights, holiday feasts, roaring
fires and, of course, presents piled high under the tree.
But at Temple Beth El, the town's Jewish residents added a new activity into the mix this year. The temple hosted a bingo game Christmas night after a several year hiatus, said Administrative Coordinator Michele Lynch.
"We haven't done it in a couple of years, but we're reactivating it," Lynch said. "The Jewish people and plenty of others like to come out, especially since everything else is usually done in the morning time."
Temple president Ed Drozen called the game Christmas night and said in the past Christmas night games typically draw more than the 150 players a regular weekly bingo game pulls in.
"Bingo appeals to a lot of seniors," Drozen said. "We get everybody in, especially on Christmas. We see Jews and Christians, white, black and Asian."
Armand Morrison belongs to the temple and brought his young family out to play after hearing about the event. Finding an activity to occupy their time on Christmas was no easy task, he said.
"We went to a movie earlier," Morrison said. "But when we were looking for a place to eat, we couldn't find one and ended up eating at home."
John Snyder said he only comes out for bingo occasionally, when he's in the mood. Tuesday night was the first time he and his wife, Debra, have ever played on Christmas.
"I was in the mood tonight and I wanted to spend the time with my wife," Snyder said. "If I didn't come, she probably would have come by herself."
Debra said she plays at least once a week around town at different places, including St. Andrews.
Drozen calls bingo games about once a month and sees many of the regular players around the community and in his neighborhood. He even met his wife at a bingo game.
"I won the grand prize at bingo that time," Drozen said with a laugh.
That story emphasizes the way people can make lasting friendships when involved in the community nature of bingo, which is about more than the gambling aspect, Drozen said. For many, bingo is a primarily social event where they can spend a small amount of money and have a good time with the added possibility of walking away with a big prize.
"Lots of our regulars sit at the same table with the same people, come at the same time, even park in the same place," Drozen said.
Tuesday's game drew fewer than 100 people, far less than had been anticipated. But the organizers decided to give everyone a present and play the game anyway, at a loss, to give out the regular cash prizes. As a result, the game ran for just over two hours, with several people walking away slightly richer. And while it might not be the most traditional Christmas activity, bingo certainly brings people together, Drozen said.
"There are a fair number of people who don't have a lot of people to interact with at the holidays," Drozen said. "If their activities with friends and family are over, we invite them to come out and play bingo with us."
Written by Daniel Pye
www.tonawanda-news.com
But at Temple Beth El, the town's Jewish residents added a new activity into the mix this year. The temple hosted a bingo game Christmas night after a several year hiatus, said Administrative Coordinator Michele Lynch.
"We haven't done it in a couple of years, but we're reactivating it," Lynch said. "The Jewish people and plenty of others like to come out, especially since everything else is usually done in the morning time."
Temple president Ed Drozen called the game Christmas night and said in the past Christmas night games typically draw more than the 150 players a regular weekly bingo game pulls in.
"Bingo appeals to a lot of seniors," Drozen said. "We get everybody in, especially on Christmas. We see Jews and Christians, white, black and Asian."
Armand Morrison belongs to the temple and brought his young family out to play after hearing about the event. Finding an activity to occupy their time on Christmas was no easy task, he said.
"We went to a movie earlier," Morrison said. "But when we were looking for a place to eat, we couldn't find one and ended up eating at home."
John Snyder said he only comes out for bingo occasionally, when he's in the mood. Tuesday night was the first time he and his wife, Debra, have ever played on Christmas.
"I was in the mood tonight and I wanted to spend the time with my wife," Snyder said. "If I didn't come, she probably would have come by herself."
Debra said she plays at least once a week around town at different places, including St. Andrews.
Drozen calls bingo games about once a month and sees many of the regular players around the community and in his neighborhood. He even met his wife at a bingo game.
"I won the grand prize at bingo that time," Drozen said with a laugh.
That story emphasizes the way people can make lasting friendships when involved in the community nature of bingo, which is about more than the gambling aspect, Drozen said. For many, bingo is a primarily social event where they can spend a small amount of money and have a good time with the added possibility of walking away with a big prize.
"Lots of our regulars sit at the same table with the same people, come at the same time, even park in the same place," Drozen said.
Tuesday's game drew fewer than 100 people, far less than had been anticipated. But the organizers decided to give everyone a present and play the game anyway, at a loss, to give out the regular cash prizes. As a result, the game ran for just over two hours, with several people walking away slightly richer. And while it might not be the most traditional Christmas activity, bingo certainly brings people together, Drozen said.
"There are a fair number of people who don't have a lot of people to interact with at the holidays," Drozen said. "If their activities with friends and family are over, we invite them to come out and play bingo with us."
Written by Daniel Pye
www.tonawanda-news.com
