The Messages of Purim
At Touro Synagogue
March 16, 2019
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When I arrived at Touro Synagogue on Saturday, March 16, 2019, people were anxiously milling around. Would there be a minyan? Gradually people trickled in, and Congregation Jeshuat Israel co-President Paul Tobak was the tenth man. He took note of the crowd heading to the St Patrick’s Day parade, and thought we should say a special prayer for those who might suffer from their revelries.
When it came time for misheberachs, Dr. Jim Herstoff said a prayer for those who might do something silly.
As Jews we had our own silliness in mind. It was the Shabbat before Purim. Purim is a silly holiday, with costumes and noise, with shpiel and spirits.
The torah reading was rather dry. The sacrifices to give after an intentional or unintentional sin were listed. There were different sacrifices depending on the seriousness of the offense and on a person’s financial status. Judaism belongs to all of us, from the grand poobahs to the hoi polloi. From high and mighty to the humble, we transgress, and we expiate.
What was it really about? The sacrifices were a means of dealing with lapses in our behavior. They helped to get past the offense, and made it possible to move on. Resilience is a human trait that prevents us from getting bogged down. This is also the purpose off yamim noraim...the days of awe, Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, when we symbolically shake off our sins at tashlich, and apologize to the one on high as well as to our fellow man.
When it came time for misheberachs, Dr. Jim Herstoff said a prayer for those who might do something silly.
As Jews we had our own silliness in mind. It was the Shabbat before Purim. Purim is a silly holiday, with costumes and noise, with shpiel and spirits.
The torah reading was rather dry. The sacrifices to give after an intentional or unintentional sin were listed. There were different sacrifices depending on the seriousness of the offense and on a person’s financial status. Judaism belongs to all of us, from the grand poobahs to the hoi polloi. From high and mighty to the humble, we transgress, and we expiate.
What was it really about? The sacrifices were a means of dealing with lapses in our behavior. They helped to get past the offense, and made it possible to move on. Resilience is a human trait that prevents us from getting bogged down. This is also the purpose off yamim noraim...the days of awe, Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, when we symbolically shake off our sins at tashlich, and apologize to the one on high as well as to our fellow man.
An apology serves the same purpose as the sacrifices of yore, to clear the decks and move forward. Did you know that parliamentarians in Canada are not allowed to eat during sessions of parliament? Recently Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for a transgression. He was caught at parliament munching on a candy bar. Was this intentional or unintentional? Rabbi Ron Fish of Temple Israel in Sharon Massachusetts pointed out that Trudeau is the son of a prime minister. He knows the rules, and was trying to pull a fast one when he got caught.
As we work out our future relationship with Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, moving past the now-concluded court battle is an important step towards reconciliation.
Rabbi Marc Mandel’s sermon was noteworthy for dealing with current events. He warned us that it would be about questions, not answers.
“This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor — The Shabbat to remember. Shabbat Zachor reminds us that Purim is approaching this week (Wednesday night and Thursday).
“One of the themes of Purim is antisemitism.
“In the Book of Esther, Haman was an antisemite and he wanted to eliminate the Jews from the city of Shushan and all of Persia. Haman said to King Achashverosh, “The Jews are a different nation. They’re not really part of our culture. We don’t need them — let’s get rid of them.”
“Recently here in the United States antisemitism has been an in issue — just a day or two ago a poster of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a New York City subway was defaced.
“The congresswoman from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, made some comments about America’s support for Israel that sounded antisemitic. She talked about AIPAC’s benjamins and pledging allegiance to Israel.
“Who decides what’s antisemitic and what’s not? Clearly in the book of Esther —Haman was antisemitic and was urging the king to commit violence.
“But the congresswoman from Minnesota wasn’t encouraging violence, she was just asking questions? And she apologized. Haman never apologized.
“It’s very hard to define antisemitism. If you criticize Israel, is that antisemitic? Many Jews criticize Israel — does that make them antisemitic? Can someone be an antisemite if they are Jewish?
“These are difficult questions. Human relationships are complicated. Maybe that's why we drink a little extra on Purim, to recognize that we might not always get it right.
“There are parallels between the holidays and the congregation and its history, starting with Hanukkah. Our synagogue was dedicated on the first day of Hanukkah in 1763. The connection with Purim is that among our original members that we had conversos who had hidden their Judaism. Dr Elie Cohen, who's Yahrzeit is on Purim, was like Mordecai in the Megillah. He never hid his Jewishness [in his native Egypt] and was a proud Jew.”
This was really two sermons in one. Linking the yom tovim to the history of the congregation is a powerful idea and could be a sermon in its own right.
Rabbi Marc Mandel’s sermon was noteworthy for dealing with current events. He warned us that it would be about questions, not answers.
“This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor — The Shabbat to remember. Shabbat Zachor reminds us that Purim is approaching this week (Wednesday night and Thursday).
“One of the themes of Purim is antisemitism.
“In the Book of Esther, Haman was an antisemite and he wanted to eliminate the Jews from the city of Shushan and all of Persia. Haman said to King Achashverosh, “The Jews are a different nation. They’re not really part of our culture. We don’t need them — let’s get rid of them.”
“Recently here in the United States antisemitism has been an in issue — just a day or two ago a poster of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a New York City subway was defaced.
“The congresswoman from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, made some comments about America’s support for Israel that sounded antisemitic. She talked about AIPAC’s benjamins and pledging allegiance to Israel.
“Who decides what’s antisemitic and what’s not? Clearly in the book of Esther —Haman was antisemitic and was urging the king to commit violence.
“But the congresswoman from Minnesota wasn’t encouraging violence, she was just asking questions? And she apologized. Haman never apologized.
“It’s very hard to define antisemitism. If you criticize Israel, is that antisemitic? Many Jews criticize Israel — does that make them antisemitic? Can someone be an antisemite if they are Jewish?
“These are difficult questions. Human relationships are complicated. Maybe that's why we drink a little extra on Purim, to recognize that we might not always get it right.
“There are parallels between the holidays and the congregation and its history, starting with Hanukkah. Our synagogue was dedicated on the first day of Hanukkah in 1763. The connection with Purim is that among our original members that we had conversos who had hidden their Judaism. Dr Elie Cohen, who's Yahrzeit is on Purim, was like Mordecai in the Megillah. He never hid his Jewishness [in his native Egypt] and was a proud Jew.”
This was really two sermons in one. Linking the yom tovim to the history of the congregation is a powerful idea and could be a sermon in its own right.
Two sermons for the price of one! I like a bargain.
In his discussion of antisemitism I think Rabbi Mandel was trying to get us to think, and warning us that we should not react in knee jerk fashion to whatever the latest pundit says.
The subject of antisemitism is somewhat of an abstraction until you are directly affected. The Hebrew cemetery in Fall River was targeted by antisemites, probably on Saturday. Fifty-nine headstones were either painted with antisemitic graffiti or pushed over. This included graffiti on three stones of my mother’s Pokross family, of Israel and Lillie, of my grandparents Jacob and Sarah(Karnowsky), and of Esther. Nineteen members of the Pokross family are buried there. The Laskys are also Pokross family members. Both of my mother's parents are part of large extended families. Members of the Fastiff family are also buried there.
Speaking for my Pokross family, we are in pain. I feel like I have been personally attacked. Heinrich Heine said, “First they burn books, then they burn people.” A headstone is a short book. Ever present in my mind is the Holocaust, when many of my relatives were murdered. Some members of my Kusinitz family were literally burnt to death, in a synagogue in Dolhinov, now in Belarus.
After writing this, I can’t wait for Purim. I need a drink.
Shabbat Shalom from Jewish Newport!
In his discussion of antisemitism I think Rabbi Mandel was trying to get us to think, and warning us that we should not react in knee jerk fashion to whatever the latest pundit says.
The subject of antisemitism is somewhat of an abstraction until you are directly affected. The Hebrew cemetery in Fall River was targeted by antisemites, probably on Saturday. Fifty-nine headstones were either painted with antisemitic graffiti or pushed over. This included graffiti on three stones of my mother’s Pokross family, of Israel and Lillie, of my grandparents Jacob and Sarah(Karnowsky), and of Esther. Nineteen members of the Pokross family are buried there. The Laskys are also Pokross family members. Both of my mother's parents are part of large extended families. Members of the Fastiff family are also buried there.
Speaking for my Pokross family, we are in pain. I feel like I have been personally attacked. Heinrich Heine said, “First they burn books, then they burn people.” A headstone is a short book. Ever present in my mind is the Holocaust, when many of my relatives were murdered. Some members of my Kusinitz family were literally burnt to death, in a synagogue in Dolhinov, now in Belarus.
After writing this, I can’t wait for Purim. I need a drink.
Shabbat Shalom from Jewish Newport!
Thank you to Rabbi Marc Mandel for sharing his words and to Beth Ginsburg Levine for editing.
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