Florida Man Dies in Purim Revelry
A man was found dead, apparently of alcohol poisoning, in the parking lot of a Florida Chabad center following a Purim celebration.
Jesse Allen, 28, was found dead on the morning of Mar. 9 in the parking lot of the Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona by the synagogue’s rabbi, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported on Thursday.
Allen had attended the synagogue’s Purim party the night before. Rabbi Pinchas Ezagui said there was no alcohol served at the party, but several people had brought their own
The death was apparently due to alcohol poisoning but police are awaiting the results of a toxicology report to determine the cause, Ormond Beach police Lt. Kenny Hayes told the paper.
Ezagui said Allen had become so intoxicated at the party that he had urinated on himself. Another attendee escorted Allen outside to sleep off his drunkenness on the grass.
“It is a very unfortunate situation,” Ezagui said. “We don’t know the guy. He is not of the Jewish faith.”
Allen’s mother Lynn said her son loved Jewish tradition and was struggling to overcome an alcohol problem.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
