Purim Jew

Dear Friends,

Here are two terms that may apply to you, each in two different ways:

Purim Jew (poor-em joo) n. 1. A Jewish person who likes to have fun and is apt to enjoy the holiday of Purim. Such a person should come to Temple Sinai of Bergen County on the evening of Saturday Feb. 23 or Sunday Feb 24 to celebrate this holiday. If said person is an adult without children in tow they should come on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. to enjoy food, drink, Megillah reading and Purim Shpiel. BYOB and silly hat/costume. If said person has school age or pre-school age children they should come on Sunday morning for the family Purim celebration, lunch and carnival – featuring karaoke, bounce-house, games and Speckle the Clown.

2. A term invented by the Jewish writer and Hartman Institute Scholar, Yossi Klein Halevi, and used by Rabbi Jordan Millstein in a Rosh Hashanah sermon two years ago to refer to Jews who are always on the lookout for the next Haman on the horizon who is out to kill the Jewish People. The Torah commands us, "Remember Amalek," a tribe who attacked us in the wilderness after the exodus and tried to wipe us out. Haman, according to the Book of Esther, read on Purim, was a descendant of the King of Amalek. Purim Jews say, "let's not be naive about the intent of Israel’s enemies - they really want to wipe us out. And history has shown we can't depend on others to save us. So, we have to be strong and constantly vigilant." For example, Purim Jews right now may be very worried about the nomination of former Senator Hagel to become Secretary of Defense. Rabbi Millstein is a Purim Jew in this regard.

Pesach Jew (pe-sakh joo) n 1. A Jewish person who likes the holiday of Passover. Such a person should not only have a seder on the first night of Passover but should consider coming to Temple Sinai of Bergen County for a second night seder, at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday March 26th. Please see next month’s Sentry for details.
2. A term invented by the Jewish writer and Hartman Institute Scholar, Yossi Klein Halevi, and used by Rabbi Jordan Millstein in a Rosh Hashanah sermon two years ago to refer to Jews who see the history of suffering of the Jewish People as leading to a moral imperative to prevent the suffering of others. Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. The Torah commands us,

"Remember you were strangers in the Land of Egypt - do not oppress the stranger." Passover Jews say, "let's not be brutal or callous; we suffered so we should take extra care to prevent the suffering of others, particularly those who are victims or outsiders in the society.” For example, Pesach Jews right now may be passionately focused on changing the gun laws in our society to reduce the number of victims of gun violence. If they are Temple Sinai members they might join the Shalom Task Force and get involved in this important issue. Rabbi Millstein is a Pesach Jew in this regard; you can email him to tell him you want to join the Shalom Task Force or just show up this Sunday at our meeting at 9:30 a.m. in Founders Hall.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim (and not too long from now, Pesach, too)!

Jordan

p.s. - I cannot finish this email in which I referred to the Shalom Hartman Institute without mentioning the passing of its founder this past week, Rabbi David Hartman. I was fortunate to learn from Rabbi Hartman at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and he was truly one of the “Gedolei Ha’dor,” the great Jewish leaders of his generation. I will be sharing some brief remarks about him tonight at our Friday evening service. You can learn more about him by going tohttp://hartman.org.il/SHINews_View.asp?Article_Id=1073&Cat_Id=303&Cat_Type=SHINews