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coo Congregation Shaarey Zedek Invites You to Comedy Central

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;SHAIREY ZEDEK

Bob Alipo

Rabbi/Stand-Up Comic

"The world's only practicing clergyman
doing stand-up...intentionally."

Purim: Hearing The
Voice of The People

possibly disastrous
ost summaries of
effects his action might
Megillat Esther
have
for the entire Jewish
recount the near-
people
— i.e., the average
destruction of the Jewish
Jew?
people in Ahasuerus' king-
Here's why this mat-
dom and the cleverness and
ters. If history is an
bravery of the heroes Esther
account of people in high
and Mordechai in the face of
places making decisions
Haman's evil plan. Like so
while the rest of the
Rabbi Steven
many modern histories,
world benefits or (more
Rubenstein
Megillat Esther narrates
often) suffers, then we
Special to the
events largely from the per-
may see our own lives
Jewish News
spective of the major figures
and current situation
of the story. But it gives far
similarly. We may view
less information about
ourselves as unable to shape the forces
events going on outside the palace.
that have an impact on our lives. A
When news of Haman's plot to
view of the world which takes into
destroy the Jews reached the Jewish
account the "little people" is more like-
community there was sadness,
ly
to be sensitive to the way big .
mourning and fear. There was fear
changes
affect individuals, not only
within the non-Jewish population as
well. We are told that leading up to the nations.
And while it is commonplace to
battles between the Jewish people and
its enemies, many non-Jews even con- speak of the ways in which our world
is shrinking because of advances in
verted. But perhaps the most over-
science, transportation and communi-
looked (but dramatic) fact of the
cation, the world is still very large. So
Megillah is that the battle for Jewish
many decisions that affect our lives
survival came at the cost of over
are made seemingly far beyond our
75,000 lives. And those are only the
reach.
enemies of the Jews. We don't know
In the Megillah, Haman turns a
how many Jews were killed in the
minor offense by Mordechai into a
fighting.
war against the Jews. Why didn't the
We often focus on results. Who won
people tell Haman that this was an
the battle? Who won the war? Where
unjust and unnecessary action? You
are the boundaries drawn? But our
may say, "that was a different time and .
focus on a history filled with the
a different society. What could people
names of presidents and generals
in the ancient world do to affect
comes at the expense of understand-
change at the top?"
ing what life was like for most people
But as American Jews, living in a
who lived at a particular time.
Of course, the significance of Purim country that believes in the opportu-
nity — even the obligation of the peo-
is the salvation of the Jewish people.
ple to determine the course of the
But as we read the. Megillah, it may be
nation — it is up to us to make our
useful to ask whether this was a nec-
voices heard. Haman takes the blame
essary battle. Why doesn't Haman
in the Megillah because power was so
punish Mordechai alone for the insult
of not bowing down to him? Why does centralized. In a democratic society,
the people should raise their voice and
he decide to widen his view and plan
take responsibility for the actions of
to destroy all Jews?
the nation.
Or perhaps we should also focus
If history books of the future are to
attention on Mordechai's actions. Most
be filled with names other than prime
Jews believe (as does the Midrash)
ministers and presidents, many, many
that Mordechai refused to bow down
average people without political office
to Haman because he didn't want to
or public standing will have to make it
worship idols. But the Megillah itself
so. H
is not clear as to why Mordechai
refuses to bow down to Haman. Could
Steven Rubenstein is rabbi of
Mordechai have avoided this deadly
Congregation Beth Ahm in West
confrontation without compromising
Bloomfield.
his principles? Did he consider the

M

"Hilarious. Relaxed, clean, unhurtful.
A warm type of humor"
according to The Chicago Tribune.

Saturday
March 18,2006
8:00 PM
CSZ Southfield

TICKETS ARE
$18.00 IN ADVANCE
$25.00AT THE DOOR

See why Chicago's premier entertainment weekly,The Reader's Guide,featured
Rabbi Bob Alper as its Critic's Choice, writing,"With his more leisurely performing
style - and refusal to play to the lowest common denominator - he's a throwback
to the street-smart, intensely verbal stand-ups who found their comedic voices in
the 50s and early 60s...funny and comfortingly familiar."

Featuring special "opening act"
Rabbi Aaron Bergman

Refreshments served
RSVP to Gail at 248/357-5544

Comedy Central is jointly sponsored by:
in conjunction with Men's Club and Sisterhood

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March 9 • 2006

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