Rabbi Geoff's Purim Message

PURIM and MERRIMENT! and COSTUMES!

As the saying goes…”Be happy, it’s Adar!” The month in which Purim falls has arrived. (And baseball’s Spring Training has started!) As with carnivals all over the world, we are ready to bust out of winter with a bit of fun and silliness!

The 12th month of the calendar, Adar has connotations of strength and good fortune. Bad fortune was turned into good – everything was turned upside down! – and there is joy.

The 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is kuf, and the word “kof” means “monkey”…and monkey is a symbol for LAUGHTER.

The zodiac sign this time of year is the fish (Pisces). “Dag” is the word for fish in Hebrew. But we might relate it to “da’ag,” which is worry. Our worries get turned around just as spring follows winter.

And fish swim in the sea, a world generally hidden to us. Like Queen Esther, who hid her Jewish identity until the important moment arose, we too enter the story by hiding our identities, wearing MASKS and COSTUMES.

This is especially fun for the kids. ALL KIDS ARE INVITED TO COME TO OUR PURIM CELEBRATION IN A COSTUME.

Do you want to be a strong QUEEN? Or a silly KING? Or a NASTY BAD GUY? Or a HERO? Esther? Achashveros? Haman? Mordecai?

Presents are available to all who come in costume!

One more thing. The Israelite tribe that corresponds to the 12th month is Naphtali, and this son of Jacob issued “eloquent words,” taken to mean words that give rise to joy and laughter. The numerical value of the name Naphtali is 570.

So, let’s GIVE for some joy and laughter for the kids of Beit Lev. Let’s make that number, 570, the basis for our Purim-related tzedakah. $5.70? $57? $570. Yes! Buy a pie for $57, or $570.

Looking forward to a fun Purim party and Pie Palooza on Sunday, Feb. 24th, 10:00am-1:00pm.

--Rabbi Geoff