PURIM – 14, ADAR, 5785 – March 13, 2025

ONE YEAR, FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE GAZA WAR

SHABBAT EVENING, MARCH 28 – A MUSICAL CELEBRATION

Today is a momentous day for the Jewish people all over the world. Last Shabbat, the Shabbat just before Purim, is called Shabbat Zachor/The Shabbat of Remembrance. We read a short excerpt from the book of Deuteronomy to remember always what the tribe of Amalek did to the Jews during the journey to the Promised Land.  Amalek is considered the first vicious anti-Semite in the Bible. We are commanded “to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget.” (Deuteronomy 25:18-19)

In this week’s Torah portion of Ki Tissa, we learn that each family is commanded to support the building of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary, by giving a half shekel. We all must take seriously our responsibility to support Jewish institutional life, based on the teachings in the Torah portion. The Sidrah describes the Golden Calf that the desperate Israelites built when Moses delayed in returning from Mount Sinai. In anger, Moses smashes the tablets of the Ten Commandments. He returns to Mount Sinai to receive a second set. This Israelite defiance will haunt them throughout their 40-year march in the wilderness.

This evening, we begin our joyous celebration of the Purim holiday. We commemorate the events described in the Book of Esther, found in the Ketuvim/Writings, the third section of the Bible. The ten chapters of Megilat Esther tell us about Jewish life in the land of Persia in the fifth century Before the Common Era.  King Ahashverosh is duped by his evil prime minister, Haman (boo, grogger, stamp feet) to sign a decree calling for the death of all the Jews in ancient Persia. Haman is another major anti-Semite in the Bible, after Amalek.  The Jews of Persia are saved only by the intervention of the Jewish Queen Esther guided by her Uncle Mordechai. She convinces the King to rescind his evil decree. Haman and his ten sons are executed and the Jews survive. 

Our annual celebration of this victory includes reading the Megilat Esther/Scoll of Esther, eating hamantaschen, songs, Purim Spiels: skits, plays, song parodies, and festive parties during which we are commanded to drink sufficient refreshments “Ad D’lo Yada”-until we don’t know the difference between the evil Haman and the wise Jewish Uncle Mordechai. We are commanded to make noise with our gr0ggers every time we hear the name of the evil anti-Semitic prime minister Haman. Our children dress up as the King, Haman, Esther, Mordechai, as well as contemporary movie and comic book characters.  All of these activities will take place at our KI Purim service and celebration, in our Sanctuary on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

This is the second Purim celebration that we are experiencing since the outbreak of the Gaza War on October 7, 2023.  There are still Israeli hostages imprisoned in the Gaza tunnels. Israeli soldiers and hostages have died, as have Gaza citizens.  It is hard to celebrate Purim with a full heart as Jewish blood has been mercilessly shed by Hamas soldiers.

Hamas combatants are truly the modern descendants of Amalek and Haman-evil murderers who hate Jews!! 

Perhaps our celebration of Purim is more essential today than ever, because we are so upset with the continuing war in the Middle East and with the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents all around us. We need to experience true Jewish joy during these harrowing times.

Special Musical Shabbat-March 28, 7 pm

Our wonderful volunteer adult choir, Shir KI, will present its final program under my direction on Shabbat evening, March 28, at 7 pm. Following a festive Shabbat dinner, Shir KI will participate in services offering a program of “Golden Oldies,” songs that the choir loves to sing and that are beloved by our congregants.  These include Shalom Rav by Ben Steinberg, L’dor Vador by Craig Taubman, featuring the duet sung by Cantor Levy and me, and Adon Olam sung to the melody of You’ll Be Back from Hamilton. We shall also sing Hallelujah, Amen, from Judas Maccabeaus by G.F. Handel, and Seasons of Love, by Jonathan Larson from his landmark show Rent.

We shall conclude our program with a full performance of “Chichester Psalms,” by Leonard Bernstein. This 18 minute three movement setting of a group of Hebrew Psalms is a favorite piece of our choir, and we can’t wait to share it with you again.  I learned the Chichester Psalms from my conducting teacher at Juilliard, Abraham Kaplan, who prepared the choir for the premiere performance conducted by Leonard Bernstein.  It is joyous, spirited, profound, and moving. 

Please make your reservations now for Shabbat dinner and for the special musical Shabbat service to follow.

Ellen joins me in wishing you Purim Sameach-Happy Purim, and Shabbat Shalom.