Temple Israel of Greenfield

Puxsatawney Phil has seen his shadow and from this quaint American custom we are told to get ready to face 6 more weeks of winter. In the Jewish calendar we have just celebrated TuB’shvat which lets us know that the sap in the trees is beginning to move and that Spring cannot be to far behind. This year at Temple Israel we celebrated TuB’shvat twice, once for the adults, and once for our family education program.

Following TuB’shvat is Purim, the second of three consecutive full moon Holy Days that bring us to the opening of the Spring season. Purim is a deceptively simple holiday. Purim follows the historical model of several other Jewish holidays. They tried to kill us; they didn’t; let’s eat and celebrate. Both Purim and Passover have this theme. In both holidays tyrants projected their fear and hatred upon us in an attempt to break us.

In the Purim tale, Haman told Achashveraus, “There is one people scattered about and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, their laws are different, and they do not keep the laws of the King. It is therefore not worthwhile for the king to leave them alive. If it pleases the King, let letters be written to destroy them and 10,000 talents of silver will be given to those who do the work.” (Megillat Esther Chapter 3:8-9)

The scroll of Esther describes the survival of the Jewish community from a condemned, vulnerable minority to a powerful, confident community that was able to fight back against oppression. Thanks to Jewish strength and the hidden grace of God, the mourning, fasting, weeping and lamenting are transformed into “light, joy, gladness and honor” for the Jews.

We celebrate our redemption and the quick change of fate that takes place on Purim. Purim is a joyful celebration! It is a holiday of noisemakers, making merry, delicious hamantaschen, carnivals, and purim shpiels. It is the time of celebrating our heroine Esther and her Uncle Mordecai who were able to turn the tables on our oppressors. These heroic ancestors risked their own personal safety to save our people.

One of the mitzvahs of Purim is to make baskets of food to take to our friends to express our friendship, solidarity and to help build community. This custom known as mishloach manot is a wonderful way to celebrate Purim. We love to make up little baskets and drop them off at friends’ and neighbors’ houses. It feels so good to make these deliveries and is so appreciated to receive them.

It is also customary to give extra tzedaka for the needy on Purim. Purim, the quick turn around holiday, reminds each of us that good times and bad times can come in cycles, and the importance of giving generously when we are able.

This year we will be celebrating Purim on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM. Please come join us for another creative Purim shpiel created by our Purim players: Jim Kessler, Sher Sweet, Mark Benjamin and Daniel Yalowitz. Please come dressed in costume with a readiness to kick up your heels. Additionally, our Hebrew school presents its Purim carnival on Sunday morning February 28th.

Shalom,

Reb Efraim