And the party goes on

Wow — I am just totally exhausted today!! Last night’s service, Megillah reading, and shpiel were AMAZING! As soon as I get pictures, I’ll be sure to post them!

I love Purim. I love the food (it’s cookies…who doesn’t love cookies?). The music is silly. I LOVE to dress up (see here.) The message is profound and important.

We really stretch out the holiday as much as we can at our shul. Carnival last Sunday, service last night, and a HUGE costume party for the grown-ups tomorrow night. So I just couldn’t help myself when putting together the music for this evening. I just had to slip in a few “seasonal” tunes.

Utzu Eitzah

Utzu eitzah v’tufar
dabru davar v’lo yakum
ki imanu Eil.

(Make your plans; they will be annulled.
Scheme against us; it will be to no avail,
for God is with us.)

Chag Purim

Chag Purim, Chag Purim,
chag gadol lay’hudim.
Maseichot, ra’ashanim,
z’mirot, v’rikudim.
Havah narishah, raash, raash, raash,
Baraashanim.

(The holiday of Purim is a great festival for the Jews with masks, noisemakers, songs, and dancing.
Let’s make lots of noise with groggers!)

The juxtoposition of the serious and the silly perfectly captures the tospsy-turvy message of this festival. We Jews are serious most of the time and certainly that has been the case during times of great oppression and darkness. How wise our Sages were to give us one time a year to let go. To break free from the constraints necessary to preserve our lives. To allow the stark realities of our circumstances to fall to the side for just a little while, allowing us to breathe freely and enjoy life.

So laugh, dance, make merry, and enjoy. Remember — it is still Adar!

Chag Purim Samayach…and Shabbat Shalom!