Most years our neighbors’ Easter celebrations coincide with the holiday of Passover on the Jewish calendar.  As I explained in an earlier column, because of the Jewish leap year, Passover is “late” and starts a month after Easter this year.  This means that the most significant of the Christian festivals occurs not during our Feast of Freedom as usual, but instead on the same weekend that Jews observe a rather raucous, carnival-like, holiday of Purim, with activities somewhat resembling Mardi Gras festivities.  In earlier times, when this happened, Jews frequently toned down their activities a bit lest it appear that we are in joyful celebration in response to the death of Jesus on the cross which Christians mark that very same day as Good Friday prior to the Easter celebration.  There was fear in medieval times that a too exuberant Purim holiday might provoke anti-Semitic outbursts from people who thought that the Jews were mocking them and rejoicing in the death of Jesus.

In fact, of course, Purim has nothing to do with Good Friday or Easter.  It is a holiday established centuries before the Christian era, in the ninth chapter of the Book of Esther.  It celebrates the defeat of Haman, a Persian official who sought to destroy all the Jews.  His nefarious plan was exposed to the Persian King, Ahasuerus, by his Jewish Queen, Esther, and her cousin Mordecai.  The Jews were then allowed to defend themselves against their enemies and win a great victory.  Haman and his ten sons were ultimately hanged and an annual festival was declared on the 14^th of the Hebrew month of Adar which was last Thursday night and Friday.  The holiday is known as Purim which means “lots” as in a lottery.  Haman chose the day for the attack on the Jews by casting lots.  Much in the Purim story in the Book of Esther seems at first glance to depend solely on chance and coincidence, on the casting of lots as it were.  God’s name never appears in the book, He seems to be absent.  Nonetheless the Divine Hand is clearly operating behind the scenes throughout the story to bring about the salvation of the Jews as we come to realize that nothing is really left to chance.  All is in the hands of our Heavenly Father even when His face and name seem to be hidden from view. 

In fact, of course, Purim has nothing to do with Good Friday or Easter.  It is a holiday established centuries before the Christian era, in the ninth chapter of the Book of Esther.  It celebrates the defeat of Haman, a Persian official who sought to destroy all the Jews.  His nefarious plan was exposed to the Persian King, Ahasuerus, by his Jewish Queen, Esther, and her cousin Mordecai.  The Jews were then allowed to defend themselves against their enemies and win a great victory.  Haman and his ten sons were ultimately hanged and an annual festival was declared on the 14^th of the Hebrew month of Adar which was last Thursday night and Friday.  The holiday is known as Purim which means “lots” as in a lottery.  Haman chose the day for the attack on the Jews by casting lots.  Much in the Purim story in the Book of Esther seems at first glance to depend solely on chance and coincidence, on the casting of lots as it were.  God’s name never appears in the book, He seems to be absent.  Nonetheless the Divine Hand is clearly operating behind the scenes throughout the story to bring about the salvation of the Jews as we come to realize that nothing is really left to chance.  All is in the hands of our Heavenly Father even when His face and name seem to be hidden from view. 

There is much controversy about the historicity of the biblical story of Esther.  The background details about the Persian court seem very authentic, but historians question many of the events mentioned in this satirical book.  Ahasuerus the King is generally identified with the king known in Greek as Xerxes.  His Persian name apparently is much closer to “Ahasuerus.”  However there is no indication from our knowledge of ancient Persia that Xerxes ever took a Jewish queen and many other details of the story do not jive with what historians have uncovered about Persia of that time.  It may be that Esther is just an historical novel or a fantasy of what might have been if only the Jews had gained power back then.  Regardless, religious history, as usual, demands that we not be confused by the facts.  We are more interested in the theological lessons to be drawn from the story whether or not it occurred precisely as described in the Bible.

Haman is linked in our tradition with Amalek, a descendant of Esau, whose people attacked the Israelites unprovoked as they departed Egypt.  The Torah tells us that we must blot out the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens.  Thus in every generation we struggle against the forces of evil that try to attack us be they named Amalek, Haman, Hitler, or, if the shoe fits, Ahmedinajad.  If Haman is a fictional character, he represents all too many real historic figures down through the ages who were much more successful in their efforts to kill Jews.  Esther and Mordecai represent the power of faith in the Almighty and the uniting of the community to face the enemies who rise up in every age.  This dark struggle is masked in black humor and hilarity as we read the Book of Esther somewhat melodramatically on Purim night and again on Purim morning.  Congregants, particularly the children, drown out the name of Haman with their noisemakers, their graggers.  In our congregation this year, one member dressed up villainously like Haman and tried to sneak out onto the altar while I was reading the Megillah, the book of Esther, but he  retreated in haste into an alcove every time the noisemakers went off. The kids ate it up and had a great time.

On Purim, people put on masks and costumes thus symbolically hiding their faces as does God Himself in the Megillah.  We are encouraged to send gifts of food to one another (shalach manot) and gifts to the poor.  A feast is to be held on Purim day at which time one is urged, uncharacteristically for Jews who usually prefer food to drink, to get high on wine and liquor.  We are to be so intoxicated that we can no longer distinguish between “Blessed is Mordecai” and “Cursed be Haman.”  Since much of the Purim story takes place under the influence of strong drink, the drinking tradition of Purim mimics that custom.  In some places, Purim songs are sung, Purim spiels (plays) are performed, and detailed parodies of rabbinic discussions are held.  Nothing is sacred on this day of joy and celebration, it seems.  It is truly a carnavale.  It has been suggested that we numb our reasoning faculties on this day to appreciate the fact that God’s grace transcends the rational and, in spite of our sins and failures, He is there for us and ready to save us from our enemies.

We move now from Purim in the next weeks toward the great redemption of Passover and begin our preparations for a week of that major holiday next month and for our Seder meals.  This week is Shabbat Parah, the Sabbath of the Cow, on which we read of the purification rites involving the ashes of a red heifer necessary before one could offer a sacrifice in the ancient Temple.  As we read this arcane passage from Numbers, we remind ourselves of the need to purify our hearts and minds for the upcoming holiday on which we hope to renew ourselves as a people.