As we learned on Groundhog Day, our friend Punxsutawney Phil (the world famous weather predicting Groundhog), winter will continue for another 6 weeks.  But in our Jewish world, we endure the cold, wind and rain and we have entered the month of Adar.  Our expression from the Talmud, tractate Taanit 29a—משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה—When Adar enters, joy increases.   Even in late winter we sense the joy of the approaching holiday of Purim.

At Congregation Am HaYam we will be observing the joyful celebration of Purim on Monday evening, March 2nd.  There are some wonderful and joyful traditions we engage in on Purim.  We gather to hear the reading of the story of Purim, contained in the Megillah Esther.  Something I find interesting is our Sages of Blessed Memory consider the story so important to be heard and internalized, it is has become a piece text from the tradition that specifically can be read in any language the community understands.  We always read Torah in Hebrew, we pray mainly in Hebrew, but the Magillah Esther can be read fully in English, so the community can hear and understand the story.  The villain of the story is the wicked Haman and we engage in making as much noise as possible to fulfill the commandment to blot out his name from under the heavens.  It is a night we wear costumes to increase our joy and to engage in fun.  I will be dressed in the profession I’d so want to do, if I was not already a rabbi.  We increase joy by singing and indulging in a beverage or 2 (more about the beverages in a moment).  I’m leading us in a “sing a long” at Purim and hope you’ll join me in song.   We have the custom of exchanging small gifts.  And at CAH we take part in the Misloach Minot gifts and fund raiser.  I hope you took part, I’m looking forward to picking my bag up at Purim.   It is considered a great mitzvah to contribute to charity and to enjoy a festive meal.  To help with that, join me in enjoying sweets after services on Monday the 2nd.  And together let’s increase joy for each other and the larger community.

A side note about drinking on Purim.  It is well known that on Purim, it is a drinking holiday and the commandment is to be so under the influence we can not tell the difference between righteous Mordechai and the wicked Haman.  Now obviously in our modern times, we stress responsibility and responsible drinking.  Nobody should be so intoxicated they drive under the influence.  Our tradition offer this cautionary  story from the Talmud.  It seems two rabbis got together to celebrate Purim and well, they drank.  And by drank, I mean they drank alot.  To the point one rabbi stabbed the other without realizing it.  In fact, he killed his friend.  He woke up the next morning and saw what he had done the night before.  He prayed deeply and fervently for G1d to forgive him and restore his friend to life.  And his prayers were granted in the positive and his friend was restored to life.  The next year he asked his friend, “hey, shall we get together and celebrate Purim?  And in the most Jewish of answers, his friend replied, “no, you don’t always get a miracle”.

My friends, I look forward to seeing everyone at Purim, in joy, in merriment, in song and to hear the story and blot out the name of evil Haman.

Rabbi Ron