Purim 5769 -- Remembering and Forgetting

We all deserve to escape reality once in awhile: To hide our face from the cruelties that go on around us, to become giddy, to laugh in the face of hard times, and to assume the carefree attitude of someone else. As Jews, we not only deserve this, it is a mitzvah to do it.

The holiday of Purim begins on Monday night, March 9. Our TBS Purim Family Day, featuring our Super Heroes Shpiel & the Persian Marketplace carnival, begins Sunday morning, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. This is a season to forget and to remember!

This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, a Shabbat with a special maftir Torah reading and Haftarah reading, on which we are commanded to remember the past evils that our ancient enemy Amalek inflicted on our people. We are supposed to remember Amalek and blot out the memory of the Amalekites. We are supposed to remember by forgetting. This troubling commandment has, since rabbinic times, been reinterpreted (a desire, always, to move away from our people’s early fantasies of power from a place of powerlessness). I believe, through my interpretation of Shabbat Zachor, that this is a time to focus on that which is “evil” in our midst—injustice, poverty, homelessness, and degradation—and focus ourselves on eradicating them from our midst. We must remember them to forget them.

It is fascinating that we are called upon to “remember” by “blotting out” the name of our enemy. How do we remember by forgetting?

Each society has its own version of our Purim celebration—Carnival, Mardis Gras, and Shrovetide. It is human nature to need a break. And, it is our people’s custom to take a break. And so, with the harsh realities of the world swirling around us, we let loose. We forget our proscribed roles and allow ourselves the decadence of fantasy.

But none of this is done for naught! It is our duty to awake from this reality-respite renewed. It is our duty to regroup, to make a difference. Our world needs our help. Today we may hide, but tomorrow we must act. Today we might let loose, but tomorrow we must stand firm. During this time, we forget in order to remember.

On Purim, there are three mitzvot, three commandments, of Purim (commandments that I believe help us to remember-forget) that I would like to invite you to fulfill this Purim: To hear the Megila, to give gifts to the poor (Matanot LaEvyonim), and to send out little gifts/plates of food (Mishloach Manot) to friends. By remembering others and our people’s story with joy, we forget (even for a few minutes) our own troubles, and re-center ourselves on that which is blessed in our lives.

So, I invite you all to take your groggers, secure your masks on tightly, and get ready to have fun!