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and one stupid king, Ahasueros, in
ome years back, when my
one ancient kingdom, Persia. -But it
sister was dating a gentile
is more: It is about the persecutions
man, the first Jewish service
we have endured — and survived —
she took him to was a Purim
because we dared to remain different,
celebration. His reaction was, "THIS
loyal
to our own culture and values
is religion?"
in
the
many lands where we have
Her answer might well have been,
lived. Even Yom Kippur,
"Yes, this is JEWISH reli-
that most abstract and
gion."
"religious" of Jewish holi-
Though Jews sometimes
days, also remembers the
have a hard time explaining
persecutions we have faced
it to people of other faiths,
down as a people. The Kol
in our religion, culture and
Nidre chant with which we
faith are inextricably mixed.
begin the Yom Kippur holi-
That's partly because of the
day recalls the many times
kind of faith we have: not
we have been tortured into
faith in a particular under-
swearing allegiance to
standing of God, but in a
particular understanding of JUDY PET SONK something we didn't
Specia /to
believe in. It affirms that
human beings, of what life
The
Jewis
h
News
we
will and must do what
is for. This is especially
we
can
to survive both
clear on the carnival holiday
physically
and spiritually •
of Purim, which began on Wednes-
to continue to live and live
day with the Fast of Esther and runs
morally and to live as Jews.
through Shushan Purim today.
In addition to history, all Jewish
In Christianity; there is a clear
holidays
have another story to tell —
separation between faith and culture.
the
story
of the human spirit as we
The cultures of Christians are
understand
it. Purim celebrates silli-
diverse; their common faith unites
ness,
cleverness,
adaptability and
them. Mardi Gras is a custom in
simple
stubbornness:
the human
some Christian lands; Easter is a hol-
ability to outmaneuver tyranny
iday of faith
through wit,
common to
terror through
virtually all
laughter.
who consider
Yom Kip-
themselves
pur,
in its
Christians.
solemn
baring
Jews, too,
of the soul,
have lived in
celebrates the
many lands
opposite side
and many cul-
of human
tures. But we
nature
— our
have also car-
ability
to
take
ried with us
things
serious-
our own reli-
ly, to be utter-
gious culture
ly honest, to
connecting us
respond with
to Jews in
the depths of
other times
our being.
and places.
The rabbis
Because the A Purim parade from a 1707 Amsterdam
recognized
the
central "charac- painting.
intimate
con-
ter" in the Jew-
nection
ish story is a
between the
people, not a person, every holiday is
two holidays: They called Yom Kip-
in part a celebration of that common
pur "Yom HaKiPurim" — the holi-
history. The story that we read from
day that is like Purim. The rabbis
the Megillah, the special scroll for
said
that after the messiah comes,
Purim, is about one clever queen,
Purim
is the one holiday Jews will
Esther, saving her people from the
still
celebrate.
The ability to laugh is
plot of one evil persecutor, Haman,
fundamental to being human — and
Judy Petsonk is the author of Taking
when all other differences among
Judaism Personally, Creating Meaning-
human beings are gone, when
ful Spiritual Life, published by the Free
humanity is truly one, laughter will
Press, a division of Simon and Schuster.
remain to unite us. ❑

