How Purim is celebrated in Guelph: Past and future

JOSH SZWERAS

Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrated every year. Often seen as Jewish Mardi Gras or Jewish Halloween, it is a celebration that unfortunately has been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Most people typically celebrate by partying, eating, and doing charitable acts around the community. The celebration of Purim is often a fun time, however, the actual history behind the holiday is a little more complicated and heavy.

In biblical times, the Jews were exiled from their ancient homeland and sent off to Persia. Persian advisor to the King, Haman, demanded that everyone bow down to him as a sign of respect. However, a Jew named Mordecai refused, as it was against his religion.

In retaliation, Haman planned to exterminate all the Jews, and the King of Persia agreed to his plan, setting an execution date for them all. Esther, the newly appointed queen and Mordecai’s niece, heard of the news and sprung into action to save the Jewish people. She went to the King and begged him to defy Haman’s request. The King listened, and Haman was publicly executed, thus saving the Jewish people of Persia. Mordecai later took Haman’s role as advisor to the King.

Today, some of the most popular traditions include eating Hamantaschens (triangular filled cookies which represent Haman’s hat), giving mishloach manot (food baskets) to family and friends, and telling Mordecai’s story. When Haman’s name is spoken during the story, everyone spins gragger or ratchets that make a loud noise.

Chabad of Guelph and Guelph Hillel are two local Jewish organizations that run religious, social, and community events for Jewish people in Guelph.

Rabbi Raphi Steiner of Chabad of Guelph spoke fondly of Purim, reminiscing about “getting all dressed up with [his] dad and delivering mishloach manot to family and friends.”

Steiner told The Ontarion that like the story of Mordecai, “no matter how bleak things are… it can always turn around.”

For this reason, Steiner believes the holiday is a happy one.

“It’s only happy because of the struggle,” said Steiner. “Other Jewish holidays, like Passover, we eat bitter herbs at the Seder to recall the struggle, but Purim is completely celebrating the victory — the outcome.”

While celebrations are spent “having fun with friends,” Chabad board member Erin Rudolph recalls Mordecai’s struggle.

“It’s a happy holiday at the end of the day, but it is a tragedy that the Jewish people were in that position in the first place,” she told The Ontarion. “It reminds me of the increasing amount of anti-Semitism in the world today — it’s scary.”

Still, the story serves as one of Rudolph’s favourite Purim traditions: yelling “boo” and spinning the gragger everytime Haman’s name is said.

“You are all so unified yelling ‘boo,’” she said.

While the context is entirely different, the tradition of yelling “boo” is undoubtedly reminiscent of Halloween, but the two holidays are very different.

“I see people compare the two because they both have costume elements,” said Steiner, whose Bell payphone booth costume was among his best. “My memories of costume planning with my parents and siblings and then getting dressed up are some of my fondest [traditions].”

However, Steiner explains that the purpose of costumes is “to recognize the miracle of Purim is hidden within the natural course of events. There were no ten plagues or splitting of the seas like there is on Passover. There was no open miracle, it was all hidden within ‘the norm.’ This symbolizes God hiding within nature and the natural course of events.”

This year’s festivities have Jewish community members “getting creative” due to COVID-19, said Steiner.

Usually, he celebrates Purim by performing four mitzvot which includes reading the Megillah, having a celebration feast, gifting food to friends and family, and giving charity to the poor.

“We typically have a party with university students and then later with the greater Jewish community of Guelph,” said Steiner.

But this year, Chabad of Guelph are in talks of a “drive-in party” instead. Steiner says they’re still planning, but they have ideas for transmitting music to cars, having party lights, and delivering food.

For Rudolph, usual celebrations of gathering with friends, family, or Chabad and dressing up are instead being replaced with making Hamantaschens with her roommates.

Steiner offered another dish to make and enjoy during the holiday.

“While I’m sure everyone said Hamantaschen [are the best Purim food] – which I agree are excellent, another yummy Purim food is called kreplach,” said Steiner. “Like a dumpling, the meat hidden in the dough symbolizes the hidden miracle, continuing with the theme that God pulled the strings behind the scenes.”

Rabbi Raphi Steiner of Chabad of Guelph. CREDIT: RAPHI STEINER