Adloyada

Old Jerusalem with snow
Photo: Infinitely Digital

It’s snowing at last here in Jerusalem just in time to give the city its own Purim costume – to hide its face.  Disguises are very much part of Purim lore.  In the Megilla Esther hides her true identity and nationality from King Ahashverosh.  More importantly G-d himself hides his face.  In a hidden allusion to the Purim story in Devarim 31:18 He says: Ve’anochi haster astir panai...”  You can hear the name of Esther as you read the Hebrew words.  The verse in English says: “I will surely hide My face from them on that day because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods.  Indeed the name of G-d does not appear in the Megilla itself.  The miracle of Purim is hidden in a story of intrigue at the Persian court.

Most years we would have already seen children out in the streets in their Purim disguises (If you have one why wear it for only one day?).  This year we have been blessed with so much rain that their parents have wisely decided to keep the precious costumes safe until Purim itself. 

Adloyada Tel Aviv 1950s

As a child Rabbi Haim Sabato was not so fortunate.  In his book From the Four Winds he describes his first Purim in Jerusalem.  On the first of Adar 1959 he arrived at school to see a bright poster announcing “With the start of Adar our joy increases.”  The teacher told the class that on Purim they should all come to school in costume.  All this was strange to him.  He was a new immigrant, the grandson of Hakham Choueka from Egypt.  Over the next few days he came to understand as girls appeared in the streets dressed as Queen Esther and boys dressed as cowboys or Indians.  Despite their distinguished background the family was poor.  On Purim morning his father could only afford to buy him a cowboy hat made from paper.  He was thrilled.  At last he was a cowboy!   That morning the rain was heavy and the wind was strong.  By the time the young Haim Sabato arrived at school all that remained of his hat was a ball of wet paper but he didn’t notice.  That day he was a cowboy!

In a famous statement the Sage Rava tells us that “A person is obliged to drink on Purim until he can no longer tell (Hebrew: ad delo yada) the difference between ‘Cursed is Haman’ and ‘Blessed is Mordechai.’”  There is much discussion amongst the rabbis as to what exactly that means.  Should we be intoxicated by Purim rather than drunk on Purim? Should we just get drowsy after our Purim meal?  In Israel a new custom has arisen that turns the Hebrew phrase “ad delo yada” into a new word Adloyada that means a Purim carnival. – a festive parade with bands and colourful floats.  The first Adloyada was in Tel Aviv in 1912.  Many towns around the country have their own Adloyada but the biggest one of all is in Holon.  This year the theme of the Holon Adloyada is “Tastes of Childhood” featuring all the foods that children love.  Don’t miss it.  Purim sameach!