Purim
It's very Jewish to laugh through pain. It's very Jewish to prioritize a good time over a pity party. It's very Jewish to make inappropriate jokes about tragedy and drink and discuss when you should probably sleep and be silent. These are Jewish traits. If you want to indulge in your dreams despite the world throwing you off its axis, if you want to squander on shiny things you can ill afford, if you'd prefer to spend your tears on beauty than on suffering, if you make light of heartbreak and believe this too shall pass, then you probably have some Jew in you.
Tonight is the festival of Purim; a children's favorite. It's an evening in which boys and girls wear fancy dress and go to synagogue with their parents to read the Megillah (scroll) of Esther; a story about a Queen who saved the Jews of Persia from an evil tyrant – Haman – who wanted to wipe the Jews from the planet. Sound familiar? It wasn't the first nor the last time a power-hungry man would plot to eradicate us from the world. When King Achashveirosh had his wife Vashti executed, he began the search for a new bride. The beatiful Esther withheld her Jewish identity and became the new Queen of Persia, but soon into her tenure, the King's evil advisor Haman urged a decree upon him to execute all the Jews. It was Esther who boldly foiled Haman's plan to the King, who then executed Haman and allowed the Persian Jews to kill their enemies.
And that's why we come together once a year on Purim and engage in the closest thing to a late night rave.
On Purim, it is customary for Rabbis to get drunk. It is customary for the entire congregation to erupt in boos and hissing every time Haman's name is uttered. It is customary for neighbors to send each other little care packages (mishloach manot) filled with sweets, fruit and sugar. It is customary to bake Hamantashen – biscuits with poppy seed fillings that are triangular in shape and intended to represent the ears of Haman. Purim is incredibly theatrical, excessively loud, and unabashedly fun. It's the least serious Jewish festival about one of the most serious tales in Jewish history. It's a time in which we let our boys and girls be the example and we embrace our inner child.
It's a lesson in why we enjoy, not because we're safe but because everything is uncertain. Jews cannot afford for our environments to be secure in order to have a great time. We have to find ways of celebrating ourselves in places that wish we wouldn't. We steal opportunities to make light even when it's very dark.
I wish you a chag Purim sameach.
Here is Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wolff. He is in Ukraine tonight, wearing a sombrero.
I grew up almost completely secular. But as I learn now about our Jewish holidays, I’m so often filled with pride for my people. Our holidays are filled with tales of morality, resilience, beautiful customs and ethical lessons to live by. Thanks for this lesson Eve.
And your pictures are charming.