by Rabbi Ron Stern
What makes us laugh? It has been the subject of question for philosophers in ancient days, psychologists and social scientists today. Regardless of the deeper vagaries of the human proclivity to laughter, most of us don’t really worry about why we laugh, we just enjoy it when we do. One of the last places most of us would turn for a good joke is the Bible. Usually we think of it as a source of morality, perhaps history, perhaps contemplation of God, but humor? Not so much! Well it just so happens that our ancestors were not above putting a few opportunities for levity into the sacred text. Whether its talking snakes and donkeys or the dark humor of ironic twists of fate, the Bible preserves a taste of what made our ancestors laugh…or at least smirk just a bit.
Purim is perhaps the prime example of Biblical humor. From its foppish king to the ironic series of events that allows the exquisite representative of the very people he condemns to death to become his beloved queen, the Purim story as told in the scroll of Esther is satire and humor at its Biblical best. It is a witty tale that allowed our people to laugh at the cruelty of a whimsical world while at the same time holding on to the fantasy that just once things might turn out the way that the scroll of Esther describes: a malicious, genocidal maniac, who once stood smugly tall at the king’s side within the palace meets his end impaled on an even taller stake. The evil Haman, emblem of all our oppressors, meets his demise eternally outside the palace, gaping through its crenelated walls as he dies and his victims celebrate. The insider is outside, and those who were once outside are now at the king’s side!
Recognizing the Bible’s humor, our rabbis decreed that Purim would always be the holiday of merrymaking, mirth, and laughter. We’d tell the tale, dress in costumes, and even drink to (slight) intoxication as we enjoyed a good laugh at Haman’s expense while our masquerading Esthers dance proudly at our sides. Join us for Purim: sing, eat, dance, celebrate, gather with friends at any or all of the Purim events that begin with our carnival this Sunday and continue through the week! And most importantly…Laugh! It’s Purim!