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PURIM
(Continued)
There is a story that started several years ago concerning the connection between the holiday of Purim and modern-day Iran. In modern Israel, Iran is still known by the Biblical name 'Paras" (Persia).
The Persian villain in the Book of Ester, Haman, is pronounced in Hebrew with the gutteral sound 'Kh" (as Khaman).
Now, Persian names (as well as modern Iranian names), often end with an 'i' sound. In this way, the Purim villain's name would be pronounced 'Khamani.'
A slight change in the letters of the name and the name becomes Khameini or Khumeini -- the name of the anti-Jewish religious fanatic who gained control of Iran after the fall of the Shah.
To complete the picture, bear in mind that Khumeini took over control of Iran on Purim. In other words, history has come full circle.
One Last Purim Thought:
By tradition, it always rains on Purim (usually only a drizzle). It makes absolutely no difference what the weather man predicts. Even if they predict sunny weather, it will rain on Purim just the same (even if it is only for a few minutes). This phenomena defies explanation.
On Purim 1999, for example, the weather man forecast that it would be a totally sunny day. And yet, dark clouds formed in the sky and when I left at the end of a mid-day Purim party, there were a few tiny rain drops on my windshield. Go explain this phenomena scientifically. (The next day, when it was Purim in Jerusalem and other walled cities, it actually did rain).
And Finally:
And finally there is the matter of fire crackers on Purim. It is not known precisely where this practice came from, but in the Middle East, the sound of exploding devices does leave one with an unsettling feeling. On Purim, children and sometimes even adults seem to delight in setting off fire crackers. For as long as anyone can remember, these minor explosions seem to be part of the holiday atmosphere.
Some years ago, the use of toy percussion pistols and guns were outlawed in Israel. More than enough of the real items are in abundance here. The sale of fireworks to minors is also against the law, though the practice still persists. The most unnerving thing about Purim, however, is the explosions of loud fire crackers.
Most of the larger fire crackers and explosive devices are set off at night, when the perpetrators are least likely to be caught. At the very least, most people consider this practice to be in bad taste. The dull echoing explosions carry far into the night and remind one of the Gulf War, when Scud missiles rained down upon Israel with an all too similar sound.
To all these youths who find that they must celebrate Purim in this way, I bid them all a happy holiday, with quieter and more peaceful days in the future. Perhaps this, too, is what makes Purim unique.
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