Dateline Jerusalem – The music is blaring while people are dancing in the streets. Loudspeakers are turned up to the highest of decibels. A totally festive atmosphere, as fireworks explode along with the sound of rifles shot into the air and cap guns popping, car horns honking, lyrical tunes being sung while the aroma of meat grilling on barbecues wafts through the air. Adults and children alike are dressed in colorful masks and costumes. They greet friends, neighbors and strangers with “Purim sameach” (Happy Purim). The doorbell doesn't stop ringing, and when I open the door to my apartment, I am bombarded with woven baskets, plastic trays, glass plates, bags filled with wines and malt liquor, cakes and assorted baked goods, jars of coffee and bags of flavorful tea, crackers and chips, fruits and vegetables, silver and gold foil-covered chocolate coins, and just about every conceivable type of candy bar. This week we celebrated Purim in Israel.
Unlike Halloween in the U.S., where children go door to door asking for candy and treats, Purim in Israel means going door to door in elaborate costumes, singing, dancing, performing short skits while asking for donations to charity. Some who receive Purim gifts donate them to the local hospital. Purim is a joyous holiday where young and old are required to give, not receive. Even the poor are required to give to the poor. We must give charity and money to the poor while giving family and friends decorative baskets and containers with different kinds of easily edible food and drink (mishloach manot). We are required to go to synagogue and listen to the reading of the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther). Every word is significant. When we hear the name of the villain Haman, we stomp our feet, boo, shake groggers and noisemakers, blow whistles, and try to blot out the sound of his name. Special prayers are said. We then attend a seudah or feast with family and friends where we gorge ourselves with delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts and party for hours. Of course, that makes up for the day of fasting before the holiday begins.
Who Is Queen Esther?
My neighbor strolled the streets in a wig of green, orange, yellow, pink and purple spiked hair. I could be seen about town wearing a long turquoise and silver gown with matching jewelry, a silver “diamond” and “jeweled” tiara sitting upon my wigged head, silver slipper shoes on my feet. I was dressed as Queen Esther, the heroine of Purim. For as far back as I can remember, I was Esther, originally clad in a velvet gown made by my grandmother. The costume may have changed over the years, but the character I portrayed was always the same, the heroine Queen Esther. I particularly liked the Purim carnivals at local synagogues when I was a child. Children could play games of skill and win assorted prizes, my favorite being bright orange goldfish swimming in a tiny bowl.
Purim is the holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation during the days of the ancient Persian Empire (Iran of today). It is the story of a brave young woman who hid her Jewish identity and married King Ahasuerus of Persia (Xerxes I of Persia). According to the Book of Esther, the villain Haman was the royal vizier to the King. He planned to kill all the Jews in the empire. But Esther and her uncle Mordecai saved the Jewish people. So often the savior of the Jewish people has been a woman. Today, the Purim baskets of goodies commonly contain triangular-shaped, pastry-filled with poppy seeds, prunes, dates, apricots or chocolate. In Yiddish they are called hamantaschen or “Haman's pockets.” In Hebrew they are called Oznei Haman, “Haman's ears.” Although traditionally most Jews tend not to be drinkers except for a cup of wine for kiddush on Shabbat, on Purim a man is supposed to drink alcohol until he no longer can distinguish between the phrase “cursed Haman” and “blessed Mordecai.”
L'hitraot. Shachar