Pictured above: TLC students and CBT adults at an intergenerational program
They Tried to Kill Us (We Survived, Let’s Eat!)
You’ve almost certainly heard this explanation of nearly every Jewish holiday, perhaps associated with Passover. Or Hanukkah. For reasons too numerous to mention, I’ve come to believe its origin is actually the Book of Esther.
When the holiday of Purim—considered a minor festival because it isn’t mentioned in the Torah—was instituted by the ancient rabbis, it was likened to Yom Kippur and described as the only holiday that will still be celebrated in the messianic era. Based on a verse in Megillat Esther (9:22), the sages assigned four mitzvot, commandments, to the celebration of Purim:
- hearing Megillat Esther (megillah)
- giving gifts to the poor (matanot l’evyonim)
- giving gifts to friends (mishloach manot)
- feasting (ma’achal u’mishteh/seudah)
When I was growing up, Purim was all about the children. Unlike Passover when we were relegated to the kids’ table at the Seder, or the High Holidays when we had an option to attend Junior Congregation or sit quietly in the adult service, Purim was celebrated with costumes and carnivals, and raucous renditions of the Megillah reading, all for the children.
It wasn’t until I attended JTS and studied Megillat Esther, that I learned these mitzvot are intended to be observed by adults. I can still recall a wildly inappropriate Purimspiel at one Purim seudah (festive meal) that left me doubled over in my chair and gasping for breath.
What I remember best about that particular Purim celebration, and many others since then, is the laughter through tears. Sometimes tears of relief that a war had ended or terrorist attacks had temporarily abated. Sometimes tears of sorrow mingled with tears of joy at being together and belonging to a community.
I look forward to celebrating Purim with you at Congregation Beth Tikvah this year. We’ll laugh and cry, we’ll sing and dance. We’ll listen and learn. We’ll be together.
Purim 5785 at CBT
Sunday, March 9th at 9:00AM – Celebrate with TLC at a costume parade and family-friendly Megillah reading by Cantor Joe, with student-teacher-rabbi participation and Purimspiel.
Thursday, March 13th at 7:30PM – Adult-Only Megillah Reading with the accompanying graphic art of JT Waldman. Join us and uncover details about this book of the Hebrew Bible that you never learned in childhood. RSVP
Saturday, March 15th at 8:00PM – Dancing under the Stars: Havdalah, Bollywood & Israeli Dance Party with the India Temple Association and JCRC. Meet new friends, learn cool dance moves, feast on delicious Indian & Jewish desserts. Everyone is invited, and space is limited. RSVP
“The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor.” (Esther 8:16)