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Purim in Tehran: The Symbolic Devaluation of the Ahrimanic Republic

Purim in Tehran: The Symbolic Devaluation of the Ahrimanic Republic

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Purim in Tehran: The Symbolic Devaluation of the Ahrimanic Republic By Dan D.Y. Shapira Dan (or, Dan D.Y.) Shapira is an Orientalist and grows more than fifty trees on the edge of the Judaean Desert. He’s a Full Professor at Bar-Ilan University. Some fifty years ago, my father brought home a small glass bottle of Iranian Coca Cola, no idea where from. I sat hypnotized looking at the bottle, with its Persian (well Arabic) letters, so beautiful. It was easy…

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Ba-Yamim ha-Hem Ba-Zeman ha-Zeh: Were Jews Involved in Iran’s First Political Upheaval?

Ba-Yamim ha-Hem Ba-Zeman ha-Zeh: Were Jews Involved in Iran’s First Political Upheaval?

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Ba-Yamim ha-Hem Ba-Zeman ha-Zeh: Were Jews Involved in Iran’s First Political Upheaval? Aton M. Holzer The Persian Empire was founded via the conquests of Cyrus II following his rise to the Anshan throne in 559 BCE. Cyrus, celebrated in the Hebrew Bible as the liberator whose decree permitted the Return to Zion, was succeeded by his son Cambyses, who is not mentioned in the Bible. Cambyses was followed for a brief period by his brother [or someone claiming to be]…

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S.Y. Agnon’s Forgotten Purim Parody

S.Y. Agnon’s Forgotten Purim Parody

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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 but was not later included in his collected works — translated for the first time from Hebrew by Jeffrey Saks.   “Those Who Err All Their Days, and One Man Who Erred Not At All”—A Tale in Honor of Purim They were both mistaken in a matter of halakhah. Such…

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The Origins of Hamentashen from the Evidence of Jewish Literature: A Historical-Culinary Survey Revisited (yet again)

The Origins of Hamentashen from the Evidence of Jewish Literature: A Historical-Culinary Survey Revisited (yet again)

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The Origins of Hamentashen From the Evidence of Jewish Literature: A Historical-Culinary Survey Revisited (yet again) By: Eliezer Brodt Eleven years ago I wrote about the origins of Hamentashen in Jewish Literature (here). A year later I revisited the topic (here). Two years ago, I rewrote parts of it for Hebrew Kulmos magazine with some new important material. See here for previous posts on Purim and here for a Purim Round up. ויאכלו את המן: מנהג אכילת אזני המן, מקורותיו…

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The Pros and Cons of Making Noise When Haman’s Name is Mentioned: A historical perspective (updated)

The Pros and Cons of Making Noise When Haman’s Name is Mentioned: A historical perspective (updated)

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The Pros and Cons of Making Noise When Haman’s Name is Mentioned: A historical perspective (updated) By: Eliezer Brodt Severalweeks before Purim, one can already see children of various ages playing with cap guns and other loud noisemakers. All of this is done in the spirit of preparing for the laining of the Megillah and the noise that will be made whenever the name of Haman is mentioned—sort of like reviewing the halachos of Yom Tov 30 days before the…

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פיוטי פורים באשכנז ובצרפת

פיוטי פורים באשכנז ובצרפת

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פיוטי פורים באשכנז ובצרפת  מאת גבריאל וסרמן באשכנז ובצרפת נהגו מימים ימימה לומר את קרובת הי”ח של הקלירי, “ויאהב אומן”, עם ההרחבות הקליריות “אזרח בט חוץ – תמימים כרשו ארץ – אותו מבהלת” ו”אספרה אל חוק – אמל ורבך”, וכן נוהגים עד היום הזה. ובליל פורים אחר קריאת המגילה אמרו באשכנז וברומא (ואולי גם בצרפת? – צריך לבדוק בכי”י) הפיוט הקדם-קלאסי “אשר הניא”, וכן נוהגים עד היום הזה באשכנז (אך לא ברומא). לכן לא היה הרבה מקום פנוי בתפילות פורים…

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