A Great Limud Zechut for Jews is that We Know How to Party
The fact that this year Shushan Purim coincided with St. Patrick's Day should make us grateful that no one is calling it ShushanPatrickurim or something crazy like that. Unlike Thanksgivvukah, there is nothing in common between the two holidays.
One might want to compare the two in that they are both drinking holidays. But there is much folly in that logic.
The gemara (Megila 12b [Daf | Text | English]) contrasts the ways Jews party and the ways non-Jews party. When Jews eat, drink and party, we speak praises to HKB"H for His constant kindness to us. When non-Jews eat, drink, and party, they speak words of frivolity - the kind of frivolity that would cause Ahashverosh to call for his queen to appear naked.
The Midrash, when quoting this piece, goes further and says that this is a "כפרתן של ישראל" - literally, an atonement for Israel. The Maharzu explains that it is a Limud Zechut for Israel that this is so. The Tiferet Tzion elaborates and says that the fact that the Jews acted in this way was the merit for the entire salvation and redemption in the Purim story.
Anyone who has attended a Purim Seudah with G-d-fearing Jews knows that our kind of party is one of holiness. The wine elevates us to praise HKB"H for His benevolence to us. We also say words of Torah to further enhance the sanctity of the party.
And furthermore, the party is not performed in a vacuum. The party is held as a culmination of the other Mitzvot of the day. We first read the Megila to make sure we understand why we are partying. We then spend much of the day giving to the poor and giving food items to others, infusing us with a spirit of benevolence ourselves. We then can enjoy the party with the proper holiness in which it was intended by our sages.
On the other hand, among the ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day is by kissing the opposite gender and pinching those who do not wear green.
All I can say is ברוך אלקינו שבראנו לכבודו והבדילנו מן התועים...
May we learn the lesson well that partying like a Jew is our great defense against Heavenly prosecution and even causes Redemption to occur. במהרה בימינו אמן.
posted by yaak @ 3/17/2014 03:21:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I learned from a fellow doing strong research in Israel a daatei lumi fellow that the irish /Scottish have a strong possibility believe it or not at being of the 10 lost tribes . The ramchal says mby gathers in the 10 lost tribes and mbd the 2 known tribes ! wont that be exciting when mby gathers in the 10 tribes . the gemarra says Hashem hid them so esaus love or his anger wouldn't go near them . Us Ashkenazi jews have had a dreadful relationship with our twin brother and they will seek to convert us even after our deaths like the polish catholic nunnery at the death camps , where jewish dust can still be poisoned , and prayed over for its salvation !
That's in America, but in Yerushalayim Purim outdid S Pattys day. IMHO only Yerushalayim matters. :-))
Anonymous: Do not believe that the ten lost tribes will be gathered in. Those who believe of themselves that they are from the lost tribes are already, for thousands of years, totally non-Jews and believe in faiths that are alien to us. Believe that those that might be from the ten lost tribes are those who are converting (orthodox & properly) at a greater rate today more than ever. These people have a pull to become Jews out of love, showing their neshamas are Jewish and who might be from the lost Jews through the millennia. Otherwise, doubt very much there will be a return of millions of non-Jews proclaiming they are descendants of the ten tribes. Know that there are sources which say that they will not return.
Great rebuttle anonymous 2 to my remarks im anonymous 1 ! In the ramchals work meimer hageulah he does speak of 10 tribes connected to mby and the 2 two mbd . But as you say they are of alien faiths by now ~ for sure ! This is a very deep shilah that as they say in the Talmud on such shilas Elyahu hanavi will posskin /decide this shilah .
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