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March 18, 2005
Purim fun is a serious business
Israeli students go to great lengths to observe this holiday that
celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
BATSHEVA POMERANTZ ISRAEL PRESS SERVICE
The sages say, "From the beginning of the month of Adar, joy
increases," and this adage is taken quite seriously by students
in yeshivot and schools around Israel. From the first day of Adar
II (March 12) until Purim, which falls on the 14th-15th of Adar
II (March 25-26), routine schoolwork takes a back seat as students
prepare and perform the Purimshpiel (Purim play).
Since the Middle Ages, it has been customary among Ashkenazi Jews
to masquerade on Purim. The Purimshpiel developed from this and
involved the retelling of the story of Esther through humorous monologues
and rhymes, providing an opportunity for the audience to cheer the
heroes and boo the villains.
Initially enacted in Yiddish, Ladino or Hebrew, it was based on
the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) and was usually presented
in private homes during the festive family meal by actors wearing
masks and costumes.
The story of Purim is an exciting, historical one – an archetype
of all stories in which Jews confront enemies who aim to destroy
them. Esther is ordained as the queen of the Persian monarch, King
Ahasuerus, who is unaware that she is a Jewess. His advisor, the
evil Haman, plans to destroy the Jewish people, and Esther courageously
speaks to the king on their behalf. This leads to their miraculous
redemption and the hanging of Haman. The 14th of Adar, the date
Haman chose to destroy the Jews by casting lots – purim
in Hebrew – turns "from sorrow into gladness and from
mourning into a holiday" for future generations.
The 14th-century poet and philosopher Kalonymos ben Kalonymos wrote
the Purim Tractate (which the Anglo-Jewish writer Jacob Israelstam
jokingly referred to as "The Tractate of Lots for the Night
of Sots") – a parody of the Mishnah and Gemarah. Although
opposed by many sages, the tractate became popular and was published
in a number of editions. An example from his work is his list of
24 different kinds of meat and pastry dishes that "were told
to Moses on Mount Sinai, all of which one must prepare on Purim."
By the second half of the 16th century, Purimshpiels sometimes included
contests between cantors from Poland, Italy and Germany and, until
at least the mid-17th century, the subject matter of the Purimshpiel
was drawn from contemporary Jewish life and based on well-known
humorous tales. From this point on, well-developed texts on biblical
themes began to appear, the oldest surviving text of this type being
a manuscript from 1697 on the story of the Book of Esther.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the plots of the Purimshpiel
in Eastern Europe focused on Jacob and Esau, the sale of Joseph
by his brothers and David and Goliath – and would dramatize
the plight and ultimate victory of the underdog.
The actors were either yeshivah students, members of craftsmen's
guilds or actors, known as Purimshpielers. Plays were performed
in the yeshivot or the women's section of communal centres and consisted
of rhymes and catchy tunes, satire and hyperbole.
These shows quickly paved the way for Jewish theatre, with the main
character in one folk comedy – supposedly based on the sale
of Joseph – being a German comic character known as Pickleherring.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the sacrifice of Isaac and the wisdom
of Solomon were more popular.
According to historian Dr. Yitzchak Kerem, "Some Sephardi communities
have parades and plays and wear costumes, but there is no satirical
or spoof element like in the Purimshpiels of Eastern Europe."
Witty Sephardi and Yemenite Jewish writers, however, wrote eulogies
for Haman, which consisted of songs and Torah witticisms. One example
was the concocting of a ketubah (marriage contract) for Haman
and his wife Zeresh.
In Eastern Europe, the rosh yeshivah (head of the yeshivah)
would be replaced with a student known as the Purim rabbi, who would
wear typical garb, stand in the place reserved for the rabbi and
deliver a sermon in front of the city's dignitaries. This had to
contain the latest Torah thoughts, with the word order changed,
and be presented in mock seriousness.
"Every year when the Purim rabbi enters our school, the imagination
takes off," said Rabbi Mordechai Gordon, a co-ordinator at
the Boys Town Kiryat Noar high school in Jerusalem where Torah,
technology and academic subjects are combined. "Once the rabbi
was lowered down in a car, and in another school he arrived by helicopter."
The senior class is responsible for the Purimshpiel, with preparations
commencing on Rosh Chodesh Adar (the first day of the month
of Adar), and the program is supervised by a faculty rabbi so as
not to infringe on Jewish law.
As in most yeshivah high schools, the Boys Town Purimshpiel focuses
on student life in the study hall, dining room and dormitory. "The
students have a chance to express criticism in a cultured way with
practical results," said Gordon, "like improving the kitchen
and services. They criticize the teachers but are cautious not to
hurt their feelings or embarrass them or the students." Teachers
receiving well-deserved praise take it seriously on this holiday
of mirth and joy.
This year, the Gilo Comprehensive high school in Jerusalem, which
has a large, heterogeneous student body, has decorated its classrooms
with placards containing rhyming jingles and, according to Pamela
Halperin, English co-ordinator for the junior high school, "students
have been learning about the history of Purim and its costumes and
have been encouraged to send each other greeting cards by e-mail.
Teachers will be receiving hamantashen (three-cornered Purim
cookies) in which we've inserted different proverbs."
Halperin added that generally there is no theme for the Purimshpiel,
"although this year it may be Alice in Wonderland."
While the witty rhymes, jokes, parodies and colorful language of
today's Purimshpiels may seem to diminish the spiritual importance
of the holiday, they carry a serious message – the celebration
of the triumph of good over evil.
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