Hertz p.339
Soncino p.519
Purim Quiz
Purim - a comedy?
Rabbi Stanley Coten
Shabbat morning kiddush
Rabbi Daniel Roselaar
Rabbi Moshe Alsheich
Rabbi Dr Michael Harris
The Ophel Gardens, Jerusalem
Simon Goulden
Riddle of the Week
Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Purim Quiz answers
Shabbat ends in London at 6.36pm
* * * * * P U R I M Q U I Z * * * * * *
1.Who is the first man mentioned in the Bible? (The answer is not Adam).
2.Who was the world's first female financier?
3.Who was the first person to study Chumash with Rashi?
4.What technical term is used to describe an uncircumcised Jewish person more than 8 days old?
5.Who is frummer - Mr Frummer or Mr Frummer's son?
6.What beracha is recited before turning on the ignition of a car?
7.Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
8.How do we know that the father of the author of our Grace After Meals was Chinese?
9.How do we know that believers do not need a prayer book on Yom Tov?
10.Where are barbers commanded not to remove the Mashiach's beard?
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PURIM - A COMEDY?
Comedy is very hard. We do not really know what makes people laugh. We know what is funny because we laugh at it. Arthur Koestler on humour refers to the 'bi-sociation' of incongruent ideas. Placing two ideas together which would not normally be associated.
Taking things a stage further, we expect the world to have a natural order of events. When these events are suddenly reversed the result can be comical.
Comedy depends on timing - a strange quality. The way a funny story is told can make or break it. If it is recounted too quickly the laugh is lost; too slowly and people see the joke coming and it dies its own death.
The Purim story is characterised by hippuch - sudden change. Haman has his gallows ready for the final solution of the Jewish problem.' His wish is apparently fulfilled by a decree sent to all the countries of Ahasuerus' empire. In a short moment everything is turned around on its head.
Jews always take great interest in humour. Religion however is serious while humour is thought of as a light topic. Humour though does not haveto be trivial. It does not have to lead to ridicule. Comedy can also be a serious business. Jewish Humour is about living in a world which appears to make no sense.
Jackie Mason asks why are there so many Jewish doctors. He says that it is because of persecution; Jews feel safe treating others because no one would wish to harm their doctor. Thinking along similar lines, Groucho Marx wrote in a letter to a golf club that did not let in Jews: "I do not want to be a part of a club that will have me as a member."
Behind every Jewish joke there is a Jewish tear, a bittersweet feeling of two thousand years of exile. We experience tears of sadness and tears of joy. When we sing shir hama'alot after a festive meal; it is showing great anticipation of the forthcoming Messiah.
"Then will our mouths be filled with laughter". When the Messiah comes, he will come in an instant. We say: "the salvation of the L-d is like the twinkling of an eye." Things will be totally turned upside down. Rabbi Y A Sinclair observes that as in the Purim story, His salvation will come at a moment of great crisis, from the depths of despondency, leading us to the heights of bliss.
Then we can look forward to the transformation of our bittersweet humour into a totally sweet sense of humour. It will no longer have a sardonic note to it. Our mouths will be filled with laughter. It will be laughter of discovery, a laughter of total understanding.
Then we will comprehend. All the great comedy of the absurd, which fills our life, will fall into place and like the Purim story, we will have the last laugh.
There is a rabbinic requirement to recite Kiddush on Shabbat morning, prior to the second Shabbat meal. This Kiddush is euphemistically called kiddusha rabba ("the Great Kiddush") because of its lesser status. Unlike the Friday evening kiddush, the text of kiddusha rabba is merely the brachah over the wine. Notwithstanding, and perhaps in order to turn it into more of a substantial ceremony, many people recite passages such as Veshamru or Zachor et Yom Hashabbat before the brachah. (The Mishnah Berurah discourages the widespread practise of commencing with the phrase Al Kein since it constitutes an incomplete citation of a biblical verse.)
A further difference between the Friday evening Kiddush and that recited on Shabbat morning is that in the absence of wine other beverages may be used for the latter Kiddush, and if another beverage is preferred to wine it may be used even if wine is available. However, other beverages may only be used if they can be classifieds as chamar medinah, i.e. drinks that are commonly served for social purposes (and are not merely flavoured water e.g. lemonade or cola). Obviously the drinks that are defined as chamar medinah will therefore vary from place to place. Whether wine or some other beverage is used almost all Acharonim agree that the brachah should be recited over at least a reviit (86 ml) and that at least a cheekful of the liquid should be drunk following the brachah.
It is prohibited to eat or drink on Shabbat morning until Kiddush has been recited. The Mishnah Berurah (Biur Halachah) reaches the conclusion that this applies even to a person who is halachically permitted to eat before davening. Thus, such a person should make Kiddush before going to shul for Shacharit. Though he does not dispute this ruling, R' Moshe Feinstein suggests that the requirement to make Kiddush might not properly apply before Shacharit.
Rabbi Moshe Alsheich
Rabbi Moshe was born in Adrianopolis, Turkey, in 1508, and died in Damascus in 1600. Most of his life was spent in Eretz Yisrael, in the city of Safed, where he was ordained by Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, and served on the Bet Din.
He is famous for his commentary to the Chumash, which is based on his Shabbat sermons. The commentary is entitled Torat Moshe, but is often referred to as "Alsheich Hakadosh", "the holy Alsheich". Rabbi Moshe also wrote commentaries on many other books of Tanach, including Daniel, Psalms, Proverbs, Job and the Five Megillot.
Since they are based on sermons, Rabbi Moshe's commentaries particularly emphasise ethical and spiritual lessons which may be derived from the Biblical text. At the same time, Kabbalah is a major influence on his writing.
Alsheich's works are very long and somewhat inaccessible, and various efforts have been made to abridge them. Two digests of his commentary to Chumash were written, and abridgements of several of his other works also. Rabbi Moshe was also a Talmudist and Halachist, and published halachic responsa.
This way to the Temple - The Ophel Gardens, Jerusalem
Two thousand years ago - during the period of the Herodian Second Temple - the lower Jerusalem market was located at the southern end of what we now call the Western Wall in the Ophel, an area bypassed by tourists today. We believe that shops were located on both sides of the lower market road. selling souvenirs, silver amulets, and animals for the sacrifices. Moneychangers converted the coins of foreign pilgrims into the local currency.
Discovered at the base of the wall, one extremely large rock has been partially reconstructed. It contains a replica of an ancient inscription, the original of which is on view at the Israel Museum, saying "To the house of the trumpeting to procl. . . " Biblical scholars are quite certain that the sentence ended with "to proclaim the Sabbath". Our very first direction sign! Imagine the trumpeter standing directly above the hawkers, warning them to conclude their business and go home to prepare for Shabbat.
Climb the steps that lead to the Hulda Gates and be amazed at their size and irregularity, cleverly designed to force pilgrims to walk slowly - an early form of crowd control. During the Second Temple period visitors entered through the triple gate on the right, and departed the Temple complex through the double gates on the left. All, that is, except mourners, who would make the journey in reverse. Why? So that people would automatically know their status and make the appropriate greeting of consolation.
The amazing Ophel Gardens are adjacent to the bus stop entrance to the Western Wall Plaza.
Last week's questions:
1. set by Dr Lionel Kopelowitz of St John's Wood.
When do we pray a full service with an Amidah but with no Kaddish Titkabel (Whole Kaddish)?
Answer:
Ma'ariv for Tisha B'AvTitkabel is not recited, seeing as we are all mourners on that occasion.
2) EXTRA CHALLENGE set by Rev Alan Greenbat, Office of the Chief Rabbi.
In our prayers, when do we go forward by going backwards?
Answer:
In the Shabbat Musaf Amidah, the middle passage, "Tikanta Shabbat" commences with 22 words that go from Tav to Alef.
** * * * * A N S W E R S T O A P U R I M Q U I Z * * * * * *
1. Who is the first man mentioned in the Bible? (The answer is not Adam). Ans Chap. 1.
2. Who was the world's first female financier? Ans Pharaoh's daughter - she went to the BANK of the Nile and drew out a little PROPHET.
3. Who was the first person to study Chumash with Rashi? Ans Rashi's father.
4. What technical term is used to describe an uncircumcised Jewish person more than 8 days old? Ans A girl.
5. Who is frummer - Mr Frummer or Mr Frummer's son? Ans Mr Frummer's son, because he's a little Frummer.
6. What beracha is recited before turning on the ignition of a car? Ans Lehadlik ner SHELL
7. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? Ans Samson - he brought the house down.
8. How do we know that the father of the author of our Grace After Meals was Chinese? Ans That's why it's called BEN CHING.
9. How do we know that believers do not need a prayer book on Yom Tov? Ans "Ki ein machzor lireiav".
10. Where are barbers commanded not to remove the Mashiach's beard? Ans "Al taSHAVE penei meshichecha".
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