Purim: A Non Progressive Jewish Holiday

Seraphic Press.com ^ | 2/24/12 | Robert J. Avrech

[Nachum]

Today the Jewish people celebrate the holiday of Purim.

It’s an old and familiar story: An intolerant Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

It’s That Genocide Thing. Again.

Most of the Jews in this multicultural Persian kingdom have been enlightened to the point where they enthusiastically attend royal feasts and gorge themselves off the golden plates and cups looted from the holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

But these court Jews have evolved past that old, tired Judaism. They’re all new-agey, progressive, and they know that Jewish history has moved beyond the old paradigms. It’s kumbaya time, Persian style.

These liberal Jews figure that Haman, a descendant of the old Jew-hating Amalek tribe, is just an annoying blip on the historical screen. They don’t take him seriously. They figure he’s just another blowhard who can be appeased. They figure some clever negotiations can make this nut job go away. They want to give peace a chance.

But there’s a Jew named Mordechai, a descendant of King Saul and King David. He’s old school; so pious and proud he refuses to bow down to Haman as do the “good Jews” of the kingdom. Mordechai only bows down to G-d.

And to the contempt and derision of the liberal Persian Jews, Mordechai actually takes Haman seriously.

Because Mordechai knows Jewish history. He knows the primary rule of Jewish history: when someone announces they plan on killing you—believe them.

Mordechai did not graduate from an elite Persian university with a degree in Conflict Resolution. He studies Torah. He prays.

[conserv8]

There were twelve spies.

They all gave a good report of the land.

But ten were fearful because they supposed difficulty in taking it because of the inhabitants.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Ooops! Brain fart! Thanks!!!