Did you know that “Trick or Treat” had a close relative in the shtetls of Eastern Europe? Jewish children would dress in costume and go from house-tohouse

singing in chorus: Heint is Purim; morgen is aus. Gib mir a groschen un warf mir heraus. (Today is Purim; tomorrow it’s gone. Give me a penny and throw me out – loses a bit in the translation from Yiddish.) Even today in Israel everybody

dresses up, not just to get candy, but to give, to bring shalach manot (presents

of food), and to distribute matanot la’evyonim (gifts for the needy). It makes me think about how and why we celebrate Purim as well as evoking feelings of a certain sadness for Jews who miss the opportunity. Whether we think about it frequently or fail to consider it at all, Jews have enemies. We have always had enemies. We’re paranoid with good reason. Leaders of that very same country where the Biblical threat from Haman arose are making virtually the same threats that we read in the Megillah of Esther. We can respond in a number of ways, but, as I strive to say each year when Purim rolls around, the age-old defensive tactic of simply ridiculing your adversary

can produce remarkable effects. A little humor always raises your morale. A little sarcasm and spoof can show that we are not intimidated. Note, for a minute, which element of Purim we celebrate the most intensely and which we tend to ignore. Even the most staunch opponent of capital punishment

gives the extra turn of the gregger when Haman is hanged. And we celebrate the elimination of a potential mass murderer. A further series of verses, though, tell us that the Jews killed thousands of Persians at the urging of the king to defend themselves. That part we tend to ignore. And we ignore it with good reason. Our value structure teaches us to defend ourselves for our survival, or even for the survival of others. Biblical narratives

to the contrary, we do not glorify retribution and retaliation. So, dress up. Come to shul on Thursday evening, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. Hear the Megillah. Cheer for your favorite Jew and boo-hiss your favorite enemy. Tell the Iranian Mullahs and the Hamas clerics that one day we believe they will be just another footnote in history. Laugh, smile - and if over 21 with a designated driver - have a little schnaps. Use our noisemakers or make your own noise. Laughter is good. Purim songs are silly. And our survival is real. Happy Purim!!! – Rabbi Ned J. Soltz

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