Do you associate Orthodox Jews, dressed in traditional garb, with getting tipsy, even downright drunk? I didn't think so, but around the world there is a good likelihood that some normally observant Jewish men will wake up with hangovers both today and tomorrow.
Why? This is Purim, a curious Jewish festival related to the story of the only book in the bible that doesn't mention God. The book of Esther is about unlikely deliverance, so Jews are instructed to revel until they cannot tell the difference between one of the good guys of the story, Mordecai, and Haman, the Snidely Whiplash bad guy.
The real good guy of the story is not a guy at all, because it is the resourcefulness of Esther in the court of King Ahasuerus which averts the slaughter of the Jews who are powerless subjects in the monarchs empire. Esther arranges days of fasting on behalf of her loved one Mordecai, who is destined to be hanged because he will not bow down before the king. When the king relents the fasts become a feast and a party and Haman ends up begging Esther for mercy. Okay, if Esther is the star, why aren't the women out partying in the streets?
Because Purim also involves charitable acts and gift-giving to friends it has been trivialized in some instances to become a sort of Jewish Halloween. As cute as the kids are, there is much more substance to the story and the celebration.
I wonder if there isn't more heft to Purim this year when anti-Judaism has been on the rise. Along with the murderous assault on a Jewish store in France, there have been desecrations of cemeteries, and threats against synagogues. This week a man in Kansas was committed to trial for murdering three people at a Jewish Community Centre. None of the three were Jews, but hatred is so often random and senseless. Some Jews in France and Britain have emigrated to Israel on the invitation of the Israeli government, but others are determined to stay in their countries, to "stand tall" against fear and intimidations.
Do you know anything about Purim? Will you blame me if you get soused today? Is it important for us to stand with Jews against any form of intimidation and threat?
Haman Begging the Mercy of Esther
Rembrandt
No, I won't blame you, David - I take full responsibility for my own actions.... ;-) I have known the Esther story for a long time, but have not been acquainted with this info about the modern partying that Jews participate in, in connection with this ! And yes, as Christians, we ought to be standing up with those who are persecuted and hated , and speaking out against the perpetrators of hatred. This wsa NOT Jesus' way.
ReplyDeleteBoy! I so don't need an excuse to party!
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