March 6th: Tetzaveh and Zachor
THIS WEEK IN THE TORAH
Rabbi David E. Ostrich
In addition to our regular weekly portion, Tetzaveh (Exodus 27.20 – 30.10), we have a special extra portion this week—one introducing Purim. It comes from Deuteronomy 25.17-19: “Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt—how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. Therefore, when the Lord your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land the Lord your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!”
This ancient instruction (circa 1200 BCE) is tied to Purim through the Midrashic tradition that Haman is a descendant of Amalek—through a line that somehow survived. Since we did not totally obliterate Amalek, some of the Rabbis teach that we are doomed to suffer threats from his just as evil descendants.
This is also the reason why we make noise whenever Haman’s name is mentioned: we are supposed to “blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven!” The irony, of course, is that we are commanded to remember to blot out something—which, if it were really blotted out, we would not remember. Perhaps this is why we don’t exactly blot out Haman’s name: the reader of the Megillah says it, and then everything makes noise.
The tradition of merriment and silliness comes from the stark irony and surprise of the story in Megillat Ester: in a matter of moments, Haman’s high status is reduced to nothing, and Mordecai’s medium status is lifted high—and it all comes about because of a woman! Thus do things flip on Purim: the serious become silly; the great can masquerade as the small; and the small can masquerade as the great. The mitzvah is that things should be turned on their heads.
The tradition of a Purimspiel goes way back, and the silliness—or unexpectedness—is not just reserved for the story. Many of the great cantors in Europe would reformat the sacred prayers of the service and sing them in popular tunes of the day. In particular, tunes from the grand opera were adapted, and Verdi, Donizetti, Puccini, and friends were sung in the synagogue.
This is one of my favorite ways of observing Purim, and so our service this Friday night will have some unusual tunes. Perhaps you would like to prepare, so here is the current list:
Shalom Alaychem: Torna a Surriento (De Curtis)
Lecha Dodi: Habanero (Bizet)
Mi Chamocha: O Sole Mio (di Capua and Mazzucchi)
Vesham’ru: Vesti La Guibba (Leoncavallo)
Va’anachnu Korim: Una Furtiva Lagrima (Donezetti)
Adon Olam: La Donna e Mobile (Verdi)
So, get out your prayer books and your opera CD’s: you have some practicing to do before Friday night!