Purim

Purim, the most joyous holiday of all, is a wild carnival of food, wine, and laughter. A time to let go in life-affirming festivities, free as possible of inhibitions, enjoying the day to the fullest.

And why not? Purim marks the period Jews were snatched from the hangman’s noose at the last minute. We celebrate our physical life because we came so close to extermination.

The historical foundations of Purim as recounted in the Book of Esther have never been fully substantiated; the story itself is rife with inconsistencies. But to paraphrase Voltaire, if Purim did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it. Parallels to its central theme of genocide have been replayed throughout the Diaspora, culminating in the unspeakable: twentieth century Germany replacing ancient Persia, a thwarted Haman recast as the demonically successful Hitler. Two thousand years later, the need for Purim became even more important.