Maybe you've heard the expression, “the whole Megillah.” It’s generally used to mean a big production, a lengthy and over-detailed account, the whole nine yards.
The phrase comes from the Jewish festival of Purim.
The Megillah is the ‘Book of Esther,’ and it is a Jewish tradition to read the entire book - every word of it – not once but twice during the one-day festival.
The Book of Esther is a scroll, describing how Hadassah, beautiful young cousin of the Jewish sage Mordechai, changed her name to Esther (which means ‘Beautiful’ in Persian) and was chosen by King Achashverosh (often identified with King Xerxes) to become Queen of Persia.
It is also the story of the persecution of the Jews by the King’s Prime Minister Haman, and their narrow escape from annihilation, thanks to Queen Esther and the wisdom and faith of Mordechai.
It is, in effect, the story of Jewish history.
Jewish Bradford, affiliated with the Chabad Jewish Centre of Barrie, hosted a Purim Party at the BWG Public Library and Cultural Centre’s Zima Room on Thursday evening, when Rabbi Yosef Nakkar read the whole Megillah in half an hour to members of the local Jewish community.
Despite the dark threat of a day of annihilation in the Book of Esther, the story itself is so filled with romance, intrigue, extravagant imagery, plot twists and divine retribution, that it is a day for celebration, and a favourite children’s festival.
Kids are encouraged to dress up as characters from the story of Esther – or these days, as any favourite character, from Spiderman to Cinderella.
They sound hand-held noisemakers called ‘Grogger’ and yell whenever the name of Haman is mentioned. Purim is a festival of feasting, giving generously to those in need, and enjoying treats like Hamantaschen – prune, poppy seed or jam-stuffed cookies in the shape of Haman’s triangular hat.
But Purim is more than just a kind of Jewish Halloween. There is a deeper message in the Book of Esther, Rabbi Yosef told Thursday’s gathering, a deeper lesson:
Mordechai, an official in King Achashverosh’s court, could have immediately taken steps to counter Haman’s plot by speaking directly to the King. Instead, although time was short, he and his followers first spent three days in prayer and fasting.
Why? Rabbi Yosef explained that the Jews, in exile in the Persian empire, had become separated from the Lord, from their own true nature. They needed to rediscover that fundamental connection and reaffirm their belief before any plan to foil Haman could succeed, and a miracle occur.
And Chabad provides this explanation: “The joy of Purim is not about the downfall of Haman or the rescue of the Jewish people. It’s not about Esther or Mordechai, Shushan or ancient Persia. It’s not about the past at all…. Purim is about us. All Jewish holidays are manifestations of deep imprints within the Jewish psyche, each with its particular time of year to blossom. What blossoms on Purim? That we grew up and took ownership of our Jewishness.”
As the children and their parents celebrated, Rabbi Yosuf noted that the Purim Party marked another kind of milestone and reason for joy. “After two years that we couldn’t do it, (due to COVID), everybody’s wanting to get together.”
For more information, visit JewishBradford.
