Many of us have begun to prepare for Purim which occurs on the 14th of Adar, March 8th on this year’s secular calendar, and is also International Women’s Day (a nod to Vashti and Esther, perhaps). Purim is a holiday with many faces behind many masks.
Purim is ripe with fun and revelry – dressing up and attending carnivals and plays.
Purim is a time for tzedakah – gifts for the less fortunate among our human family.
Purim is full of kitchen rituals – cake or cookie Hamantaschen dough – apricot, prune, poppy seed, or chocolate filling – a festive meal.
Purim is an opportunity to focus on social injustice – Megillat Esther tells a story filled with examples of injustice, oppression, sabotage, inequity, and the importance of humility, courage, and savvy.
Purim is a warning about the destructive possibilities that accompany hatred, greed, and revenge.
Purim is a reminder of the cycles of time – celebrated as the moon of Adar reaches her fullness, we are progressing from the promise of Tu B’Shvat toward the redemption of Pesach.
When our Little Minyan joins together this Erev Shabbat, March 9th, 7:30 p.m., to usher in our Sabbath and say goodbye to Purim 5772, we will miss the opportunity to deeply engage with the study of this week’s Torah portion – Parshat Ki Tisa.
In Ki Tisa, we are faced with the choice of our ancestors, fearful and impatient in the desert, to insist that Aaron build a golden calf to protect them. Our people’s weakness provokes a seemingly knee-jerk (pardon the personification) reaction from G!d who wants to destroy the people and begin again, and a similar response from Moses when faced with what the people have done in his absence. Moses, however, acts as an advocate for our people with the famous words that give us the 13 attributes of G!d – Adonai, Adonai, El Rachum v’Khanun … Finally, Moses descends from the mountain a second time with the Ten Commandments (and a few other mitzvot). Here are two interesting and very different opportunities for text study and/or viewing and discussion. Consider this 2 additional faces for your Purim week:
Dvar Tzedek on Ki Tisa from AJWS:
http://ajws.org/what_we_do/education/publications/dvar_tzedek/5772/ki_tisa.html
Dvar Torah on Ki Tisa from G-dcast:
Hag Purim Sameakh!
