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Religion

Purim: an untraditional tradition

The book of Esther is a starting point for exuberant festivals. But merriment doesn't overshadow the message.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published March 23, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - There's a lesson for everyone in the biblical story of Esther, a rabbi says.

For Jews, the short book of Esther is the basis for Purim, the exuberant festival that celebrates Jewish identity and survival in the face of imminent annihilation.

The joyous holiday offers a poignant reminder as well, Rabbi Jacob Luski said.

"Pure hatred exists in this world, and we need to work at eliminating it," said Luski, head of Congregation B'nai Israel of St. Petersburg.

This year Purim begins Thursday at sundown and will continue on Friday - Good Friday for Christians.

The timing is rare. Most years, it is the Passover holiday and Easter season that are juxtaposed.

"This Jewish year is a leap year," Luski said. "In a 19-year cycle, seven years are leap years, where an additional month is added in order to keep the seasons in line with the calendar. On a rare occasion, Purim, Good Friday and Easter interact."

Central to Purim is the reading of the megillah, or parchment scroll, of the book of Esther.

As the story goes, the king of Persia, Ahashuerus, chooses Esther to be his queen. He is unaware that she is Jewish and trouble begins when her uncle, Mordecai, refuses to bow to Haman, the prime minister. A furious Haman decides to kill Mordecai and all Jews in Persia.

He throws lots to determine when to begin the slaughter. (Purim is Hebrew for "lots" or dice.) Mordecai seeks Esther's help. Eventually, she asks the king to save her people and Ahashuerus orders Haman to be hanged from the very gallows he prepared for Mordecai.

Scholars debate whether the story actually happened, but Luski said its message is clear.

"Certainly in our generation, Hitler and the Nazis are the epitome of the Hamans of the world," he said. "It is not just a Jewish story, it is a story of understanding hatred and what it can lead to."

Lessons aside, Purim is a time of merrymaking . Many wear costumes, arraying themselves as Queen Esther and Mordecai.

At Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg, the celebration will include an untraditional rendering of the book of Esther. The congregation's "Rappin' Megillah" will follow a pizza dinner Thursday evening.

Chabad Jewish Center of St. Petersburg will enhance its Hebrew reading of the megillah with a slide show, English captions and bilingual megillahs.

Rabbi Alter Korf said the center has also organized an exotic animal show for children.

Tuesday, the children at Congregation B'nai Israel's Pauline Rivkind Preschool spent the morning making hamantaschen, the traditional three-cornered Purim pastry filled with jams and poppy seeds. Some say the pastry represents bad guy Haman's hat.

There are four commandments or mitzvot that should be fulfilled for the holiday. Among them are eating a festive meal and sending gift packages of food to friends and family members.

Another commandment is to hear the reading of the megillah. It's traditional to show up for Purim services with groggers and other noisemakers to drown out the sound of Haman's name during the megillah reading.

Congregation B'nai Israel uses boxes of Kosher macaroni and cheese as noisemakers. After Purim, the packages are sent to Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services for needy families, thus fulfilling the obligation to give to the poor. The congregation also collects money to provide holiday kits for Jews in the military.

Amid the merriment, religious leaders want to be certain the message of the holiday is not missed.

"We are celebrating the fact that we are alive and well," Korf said. "The antidote to hatred, I believe, is not just love. If you're comfortable in your own skin, then there's no need to hate others."

Chabad Jewish Center, 6151 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Grand Purim Bash, 7 p.m., Thursday. Free. RSVP for festive dinner, 6 p.m. Friday. Call 727 344-4900 or e-mail Purim@ChabadSP.com

Temple Beth-El, 400 South Pasadena Ave., St. Petersburg. A Rappin' Megillah, pizza dinner, Purim crafts and entertainment, 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday. Call (727) 347-6136.

Congregation B'nai Israel, 6:30 p.m. minha and maariv services in sanctuary. Traditional megillah reading at 7 p.m in the chapel and festive family megillah reading and costume parade in the sanctuary. Purim carnival at 8 p.m. Purim service and megillah reading also will take place Friday at 7:45 a.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 1844 54th St. S, Gulfport, megillah reading, 5 p.m. Friday, Purim dinner at 6:15 p.m. Cost, $18 for adults, $10 for children. Children under 5, free. RSVP, (727) 347-4085.

[Last modified March 23, 2005, 00:55:18]