Kosher Carnival (Esther 9:20-22)

I've been so busy the past few weeks that I missed the festivities of Purim! It started on March 19^th at sundown and went until the next day at nightfall. Well, more accurately if you live in a city that had walls in the time of Joshua it starts on the 15^th day of Adar. For the cities that were wall-less it starts the previous day. The one exception being Jerusalem which didn't have walls at the time, but it gets a free pass because it's the big daddy. Why the difference? Your homework is to go read the whole book of Esther. I could give you the rundown here, but I can't do it justice in a few paragraphs. It's a sweet story and the primary celebration instructions are pretty much spelled out right in there. Besides, it's traditional to read the Book of Esther on Purim. (Some places have women read in honor of Esther. How 'bout that for progressive!) The part that interests me the most is that during the reading, the audience “blots out” the name of Haman (the bad guy) by making noise when it is read aloud. If you're counting, it happens 54 times.

 Near the end of the story, Mordecai instructs the Jews to celebrate and give out food and give to the poor. The Halakha (the collection of Jewish law) provides some additional clarification with instructions to give two different foods to one person and two charitable donations to those in need. Speaking of goodies, the traditional food of Purim is hamantash (supposedly resembling the ears of Haman). It's a pastry folded into the shape of a triangle and filled most traditionally with poppy seed but it could contain a variety of tasty foods.

And then there's the party. The day has a carnival atmosphere with masquerades and plays and such. Now I'm gonna say you should get wasted, but I have it second hand that the Talmud instructs people to drink until they can no longer distinguish between the phrases “arur Haman”, “Cursed is Haman,” and “baruch Mordechai”, “Blessed is Mordecai.” The favorable conservative opinion is to have a little more usual but you don't want to put yourself into an improper situation.

All in all it sounds like an awesome time and I'm sorry I missed it.

If you rattle your grager when you hear my name: