Happy Purim! Living in Israel, everyone knows about this
holiday. Hamentashen (oznei Haman) seem
to appear on bakery shelves right after the Chanukah donuts (sufganiot)
disappear. Do you like white chocolate filling, strawberry jam or the traditional poppy seed variety?
holiday. Hamentashen (oznei Haman) seem
to appear on bakery shelves right after the Chanukah donuts (sufganiot)
disappear. Do you like white chocolate filling, strawberry jam or the traditional poppy seed variety?
The toy stores start displaying costumes in February, with
princess dresses buffeting in the fresh spring breeze.
Did you know that Elsa,
the Princess from Frozen, was the number one dress up choice for Israeli girls?
I heard that five girls turned up in the same blue dress at one kindergarten
last Tuesday.
princess dresses buffeting in the fresh spring breeze.
Did you know that Elsa,
the Princess from Frozen, was the number one dress up choice for Israeli girls?
I heard that five girls turned up in the same blue dress at one kindergarten
last Tuesday.
 |
| Snow White soldier on base. |
Every school child dresses up for school and every town in
the country hosts their own huge parade, a huge, creative enterprise that takes
months to organize.
There are parties
everywhere: on army bases, offices, schools, homes and on the street.
Our expressive neighbours rented a horse and pony and paraded their kids riding them up and down the streets, reenacting a scene from the Purim story. (See video below.) They even took the horse inside MK Naftali Bennett’s house!
the country hosts their own huge parade, a huge, creative enterprise that takes
months to organize.
There are parties
everywhere: on army bases, offices, schools, homes and on the street.
Our expressive neighbours rented a horse and pony and paraded their kids riding them up and down the streets, reenacting a scene from the Purim story. (See video below.) They even took the horse inside MK Naftali Bennett’s house!
 |
| Adloyada Purim parade. |
In my younger daughter’s high school, the girls elect a 12th
grader to be their Rabbanit. She is given a crown and fancy dress and is in
charge of the school for a week. All the students dance around her when they
see her to her and she gives new school rules for the week such as:
grader to be their Rabbanit. She is given a crown and fancy dress and is in
charge of the school for a week. All the students dance around her when they
see her to her and she gives new school rules for the week such as:
-Every time the teacher says “I,” the girls have to clap
-Every married teacher brings a wedding photo and tells how
she met her husband
she met her husband
-Every time the girls see a teacher, they have to sing a
special song
special song
The results are a hilarious upside down world where students
rule.
rule.
On Wednesday night, my older daughter and her friends
dressed up and went out to some local pubs to dance. They were swarmed by a
parade of costumes. Everyone turned out in costume, religious and non
religious, and they all danced together.
dressed up and went out to some local pubs to dance. They were swarmed by a
parade of costumes. Everyone turned out in costume, religious and non
religious, and they all danced together.
And on Thursday night, the young crowd headed to Machane
Yehuda market in Jerusalem where there is an all-night party in the market. DJs
blast music and costumed revelers dance outside the market stalls, filling
every alley with fun.
Yehuda market in Jerusalem where there is an all-night party in the market. DJs
blast music and costumed revelers dance outside the market stalls, filling
every alley with fun.
My daughter wandered from the market to Nachlaot last night and said Jerusalem
was one massive street party. Na Na
Nachman guys were twirling in the streets, dancing along non-religious kids.
People young and old were dancing on
rooftops and balconies and everyone was invited to join in the parties. People
roamed the streets all night, wishing each other “Chag Sameach.”
was one massive street party. Na Na
Nachman guys were twirling in the streets, dancing along non-religious kids.
People young and old were dancing on
rooftops and balconies and everyone was invited to join in the parties. People
roamed the streets all night, wishing each other “Chag Sameach.”
 |
| Nachlaot, two years ago (Nati Shohat/Flash 90). |
And this is not even the religious side of the holiday,
which, in itself actually commands parties, fun and drinking. The fact is that
Purim is a natural part of life here in Israel, while outside Israel, it not
exactly mainstream Judaism.
which, in itself actually commands parties, fun and drinking. The fact is that
Purim is a natural part of life here in Israel, while outside Israel, it not
exactly mainstream Judaism.
I did not fully realize this until I read an interesting
article on how Purim should be a hipster holiday, a time to bring secular Jews
outside of Israel closer to their Jewish identity, especially millennials.
article on how Purim should be a hipster holiday, a time to bring secular Jews
outside of Israel closer to their Jewish identity, especially millennials.
In Israel, one proudly wears their Jewish identity on the outside, where outside Israel, Jews, now more than ever, are keeping
their identity low key.
their identity low key.
The police asked the Jewish community in Brussels to cancel
their Purim celebrations because, in the wake of the horrific terror attacks, they
could not assure the safety of the Jews.
As a result, large concerts were held in private homes and megilah
readings were done in small huddles.
their Purim celebrations because, in the wake of the horrific terror attacks, they
could not assure the safety of the Jews.
As a result, large concerts were held in private homes and megilah
readings were done in small huddles.
This is a mirror of the Purim story, where the main
characters who live in Persia must keep their Jewish identities undercover. They are soon threatened with
genocide and, ironically, when they proudly come out as Jews, the story
reverses and their lives are saved. Perhaps strength and confidence in who we are empowers us and can
weaken our enemies.
characters who live in Persia must keep their Jewish identities undercover. They are soon threatened with
genocide and, ironically, when they proudly come out as Jews, the story
reverses and their lives are saved. Perhaps strength and confidence in who we are empowers us and can
weaken our enemies.
Just look at those fearless revellers in Jerusalem last
night, partying in the same city that witnesses attacks daily. They won’t
give into fear but continue to experience a vibrant life lived just as hipster, millennial Jews do, right here in Israel.
night, partying in the same city that witnesses attacks daily. They won’t
give into fear but continue to experience a vibrant life lived just as hipster, millennial Jews do, right here in Israel.
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