Jewish holidays fill the year

There are many holidays in Jewish life. In fact, there is only one month in which no holiday is observed and that is Heshvan, which occurs in the fall. Sometimes, the word MAR is added to the name Marcheshvan, which then means sad. The month itself is sad, since it is void of any type of holiday.

We have just recently observed one holiday and shortly we shall usher in another. One is short – Purim. One is long – Pesach. There are dissimilarities and similarities about them.

The one day of Purim has no religious restrictions, where as the Passover has many. We have fun with one celebration and we read a complete book from the Tanach (Bible). Our Tanach is made up of three different collections. The TA of Tanach refers to the Torah, which is most, assuredly the most important. Then there are the NA – Navim – prophets. And finally the ch – chtuvim – wisdom literature.

The Torah is read from start to finish each year. The prophets – we read selections from them. The wisdom – some Psalms are read, Song of Songs is read, others not, but on Purim we read the complete Scroll of Esther.

Passover and Purim, they have connections, one to the other. Perhaps you might have looked at the night sky on Purim. It’s too late now, but, had you done it, you would have seen a wonderful sight – the bright full moon against the dark sky. That was so, because Purim falls on the 14 of the month of Adar. But don’t worry you have a second chance to behold that magnificent sight. On Passover, the 14 of Nisan, you will see the sky lit with the full moon.

As noted, Purim has no religious obligations or restrictions, where as Passover has so many – too many to count, but, the similarities are there and very forceful and meaningful to the destiny and continuation of our People Israel.

They both are based on historical events that are crucial to our future existence. History is a compelling feature for the existence of a people. History is not only a glimpse into the past of a people, but also into the future existence of that people. Purim fits the bill and so does Passover. They tell us, as to who we were and what we shall be in the future. Few people are guaranteed of that consequence. We have been around for a very long time in the history of man. Many cultures, countries and people have come and gone, where as we have solved the problem of history, because we constantly recreate it in order to survive. And so we began our journey long, long ago. And others have disappeared, but we are here to celebrate Purim and laugh at them all. Purim describes an historical situation about us but we did overcome it. And aha - here we are.

Passover is the other bit of history that tells who we were and where we lived. But also tells the history of our futures. They thought that we were to be slaves, but freedom was our insignia - live in the future, on your own land and celebrate holidays from now into infinity. And so we did, and so we shall do. We are the product of history, but also its companion as we march into the future.

No other people witnesses history the way we do, celebrate it, march with it, from the past, into the future. Purim and Passover will always be observed because they guided us and now march with us into the future.

Happy Post Purim And

Happy Pre Passover

Rabbinically Speaking is published as a public service by the Jewish Press in cooperation with the Tampa Rabbinical Association which assigns the column on a rotating basis.