Purim, Spring Subversions, And Siding Against Haman

Purim. The holiday I kind of love, and feel kind of uncomfortable about. But mostly love. Let’s get into it.

Purim ostensibly celebrates the Jews turning the tables on their genocidal pursuers in ancient Persia. Things are looking bad when a fortunately placed heroine- Esther- is able to exert influence which saves the Jewish communities of several towns and cities. Instead of being slaughtered, the Jews are empowered by the King with weapons and they slaughter those who are coming to slaughter them.

The sudden flip-over aspect of the story is lovable, and weaves the holiday into Spring time, when winter is suddenly banished and hidden, riotous life bursts forth. In this it mirrors Spring holidays all over the world, except with a distinctly Jewish political twist.

Another way it mirrors Spring holidays the world over is the subversion of moral norms and public restraint. For Purim we dress in costumes, dance, and are commanded by the Rabbis to get drunk.

The exact wording here is important: “Get so drunk you cannot tell the difference between ‘blessed is Mordecai’ [Esther’s cousin and guide] and ‘cursed is Haman’ [the antisemitic villain who orchestrates the genocidal attack on the Jews].” I like to think there is a hint of transcendence in this command, that the moral struggle…