So, this year was a leap year (for those who follow the Jewish calendar).  As you should know, we Jews use the new moons as the signal for a new month.   And, since it is critical that holidays stay linked to certain seasons, we need a leap year.  Three times every 11 years.  And, the leap year means we add an additional month to our calendar.  No, it doesn’t have yet another name- instead we call this “leap month” the same name as the month that precedes it, but note it’s # 2.  Rosh chodesh (the new moon) of Adar 2 was two weeks ago..

Which means, tonight starts one of my children’s favorite holidays, Purim (“Lots”).  It also helped set my life’s compass.  (I’ll explain this later.)  It’s celebrated on the 14th of the month (and for some of us, on the 15th, as well).

The holiday celebrates the ploys of Esther (also known as Hadassah), the Jewish Queen of Babylonia, and her uncle (godfather?) Mordechai.

One of the traditions of the holiday is to read the megila (scroll) of Esther, the book that describes the history of the holiday.  And, there are several very unusual things about this recounting.

First of all, the names of most of the Babylonian characters in this story are akin to those of the various Babylonian gods. From Vashti to Haman to Teresh, virtually all of them are variants of the names of Babylonian gods and goddesses.

Secondly, this is the only book in the Tanach (what Christians call the Old Testament)  that has no mention of Hashem (the Supreme Being, SB). Oh, the effects of the Supreme Being are clearly felt- but the SB is never directly mentioned in the text.

Finally, this is among the most bawdy – and most violent- of the books in the Tanach.

It starts out with Vashti refusing to perform nude for her husband, King Achashverosh (conventional history recalls him as Xerxes), and the officers of the court. In Shushan, the capital of his realm.  A beauty contest (Miss Persia?) is held to choose her replacement- which is how Esther becomes queen.

Given the #MeToo moment, we need to reconsider the historical treatment of Vashti. After all, who would decide to accede to the order of a drunken man to perform nude in public? (I know. I also thought of Stormy Daniels.) It’s time to recognize her as a forerunner in the quest for women’s rights.

But, back to the Purim episodes. Achashverosh, always looking to become richer, was willing to off a good portion of his kingdom’s residents for the right price. A price which Haman (his Prime Minister) was more than willing to provide. Haman’s unstated goal (to Achashverosh) was to get rid of his nemesis, Mordechai- along with every other Jew in the kingdom, for good measure, we presume.

Now, Haman comes from a long line of anti-Semites. He was a member of the Canaanite tribe of Amalek. The folks who attacked the Jews from behind, offing the women and children first, attempting to terrorize the population. For which, Hashem commands the Jews to ‘never forget’, ‘to blot out the memory of Amalek forever’, in the book of D’varim, the fifth book of the Tora.

(Another place Amalek occurs in the Tanach is in the Book of Shmuel [Samuel], where Shaul [Saul] is commanded to destroy the entire population of Amalek, including its animals. But, Shaul decides to let King Agag and the finest of his animals survive. At least that was before the prophet Shmuel slices and dices Agag (admonishing Shaul that he is finished as a king), Agag manages to impregnate a woman, yielding [centuries later] Haman, among others. Thanks, Shaul!)

Back to the Purim spiel. So, Haman gets his wish, and determines (via a lottery) that all the Jews shall be slaughtered on the full moon of the month of Adar. (Haman chose the lottery process to show the hated Jews that Hashem has nothing to do with the world; it would simply be chance for them to die on a certain day.) The edict is spread to all the 127 provinces of the realm- from Europe to India. Haman also has a special surprise for Mordechai- the tallest gallows he could construct.

But, Achashverosh is found to willing to provide anything (even “half his kingdom”) to Esther, if she will service his needs. (You do note he extends his “golden sceptre” to her often…) And, when it becomes clear to him that Esther is a Jew, and he also spies Haman on Esther’s bed (out of context, but not a lucky thing for Haman), Achashverosh allows the Jews of the kingdom to retaliate and kill their opponents on the appointed day.  (Imagine the surprise of all those folks who expected easy pickings and then seeing armed militias approaching them!)

Which leads to a grand slaughter. Some 75000 Babylonian souls are offed. But, Esther wanted more- and was granted a second day of battle,  this time  within the walled cities of the realm, including Shushan, the capital. (This is why many Sfardi Jews celebrate an additional day to this holiday, called Shushan Purim [of course]).

Maybe that’s why it’s a commandment to drink enough for one to be unable to discern the difference between the hero (Mordechai) and the villain (Haman) of the Purim holiday. And, since most of us include our children in this tradition, the practice serves as a deterrent to excess drinking as the children grow and mature; they remember the drunken experience with far less than fondness…

The concepts of the Purim festival have always resonated in my soul.  The fact that there is no mention of Hashem in this megilla (scroll) is counterbalanced by the fact that the Supreme Being is omnipresent in this recounting. (You did watch that first video above, right?)  And, just like we don’t see or hear Hashem’s voice (or maybe we just won’t admit to it), we know that Hashem is always here.  And, just like the Jews of Persia had to create their own salvation (and join together in fasting and prayer), it’s our job to effect ‘tikun olam’, the perfecting of the world, each and every day of our lives.

Purim is one of the prime reasons that I respond to oppression and blind hatred so quickly and viscerally.  Having been subjected to almost daily taunts, beatings, negative actions because I was a Jewish child just amplified my inability to stand by when the stimulus is provided.  I wasn’t as much a child of the 1960’s as I was a child who responded to anti-Semitism, anti-Black, and screw the poor sentiments that were prevalent in the 1950’s (I wasn’t around in the 1930’s and 1940’s). (The scary thing is that these prejudices and hatreds are abounding once again!)

It’s why- as bawdy, as violent, and as nuanced as the story of Purim is- this holiday is one I have always celebrated- and inculcated those traditions in my children.  Even though it is a minor holiday.

Happy Purim to you all…

Purim day, Purim day, What a joyous holiday…
Masks to wear, Sweets to eat, Songs and dances to perform…
Let’s make a racket, “rash, rash, rash”…with our graggers swinging.

 

 

Do you have your megila for tonight?  Here’s my version- with additional background to help keep the times and action in focus- for under a buck!

(Purim also let’s us know there’s just one month to Pesach. Time to start gathering the special Kosher For Passover foods we will need for this celebration of our Freedom.)