Purim and Parodies
…the Taz who holds that שחוק is prohibited even on Purim, it appears that many disagreed with this position. This is borne out by various halachos that relate to Purim….
AI Killed the Purim Torah Star
We have previously discussed Jewish literature and the genre of parody, which arguably began with Maseches Purim and inspired many other works that use Purim as a catalyst. The genre…
The Origins of Hamentashen in Jewish Literature (Revisited)
…of Purim. Most important were the hamentashen.”[9] R. Michael Braver in his excellent memoir of Galicia written in the mid 1800’s also describes the sending of Hamantashen on Purim. [10]…
Purim, Mixed Dancing and Kill Joys
…much of the Purim fun. For instance, the Rabbi Judah of Minz permits cross-dressing on Purim. This is so, even though this runs counter to a law in the Torah…
The Birkhat ha-Mazon as an Early Modern Supplementary Prayerbook
…Holy Land. This prays your servant, Jacob Pollack, bookseller. 3. Contents. 1. Psalm 23. 2. Birkhat ha-Mazon. 3. Zemirot. 4. Havdalah. 5. Hanukkah. 6. Purim songs. 7. Purim Reshut. 8….
The Pros and Cons of Making Noise When Haman’s Name is Mentioned: A historical perspective (updated)
…pp. 168-169. [11] Shibolei Haleket, Purim, 200. See also the Tanyah Rabosi (Purim, 40) who says the same. [12] Sefer HaTadir, p. 209. On this work see R’ Rafael Nosson…
Eliezer Brodt – The Origins of Hamentashen in Jewish Literature
…the filling is hidden. Until the events which occurred on Purim, the Jews were accustomed to open miracles like those in their battle with Sisra, whereas the Purim miracle appeared…
Purim roundup
Since Purim is almost upon us, here are some older Seforim Blog posts dealing with Purim themes (arranged chronologically): Purim, Mixed Dancing and Kill Joys (3.06.2006); Mahar”i Mintz permitted cross…
Anim Zemorot: A Modern Purim Parody
Anim Zemorot: A Modern Purim Parody For many centuries, parodies have been part of the Purim literature (see this post discussing their history). One particularly popular genre of Purim literature…
“I Do Not Understand a Single Word of What I Wrote in My Book”: Rav Kook, Saul Lieberman, and a Literary Mishlo’aḥ Manot Exchange
…In the late afternoon of the “Purim of the unwalled cities,” the fourteenth of Adar 5695 (1935), when Rav Kook was preoccupied with the final preparations for the reading of…
“Milta De’Bedichuta”: Some Playful Parodies of the Talmud in the Modern Period
…his 2021 dissertation on Medieval Parodies for Purim, describes the earliest known parodies on the Talmud written for the holiday of Purim: The first, Massekhet Purim (Purim tractate), is a…
R. Flensberg, Donkeys, Antelopes and Frogs
…the Purim Rav great deference. They would also pepper him with questions both about Purim and more comical questions. The Purim Rav would answer in the Purim spirit. Nowhere is…
S.Y. Agnon’s Forgotten Purim Parody
S.Y. Agnon’s Forgotten Purim Parody A humorous tale published by the teenage S.Y. Agnon, using the penname “Mazal Tov,” appeared in a Purim supplement to a Kraków newspaper in 1908…
The Origins of Hamentashen from the Evidence of Jewish Literature: A Historical-Culinary Survey Revisited (yet again)
…for previous posts on Purim and here for a Purim Round up. ויאכלו את המן: מנהג אכילת אזני המן, מקורותיו והטעמים השונים שניתנו לו מאת: אליעזר יהודה בראדט מה לנו…
Do We Cut Off or Bury One’s Head in the Sand?
…specifically, Horowitz focuses on the Jewish practice of Purim. Specifically, he deals with Jewish violence or violent acts on Purim directed at non-Jews. He provides a discussion of the stereotype…