{"id":2410,"date":"2012-03-08T19:26:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-08T19:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjhblog.cjh.org\/index.php\/2012\/03\/08\/cast-of-purim-play-new-york-1936-subjects\/"},"modified":"2018-06-27T16:54:00","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T16:54:00","slug":"cast-of-purim-play-new-york-1936-subjects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/2012\/03\/08\/cast-of-purim-play-new-york-1936-subjects\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2410 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/2012\/03\/08\/cast-of-purim-play-new-york-1936-subjects\/attachment\/2411\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/tumblr_m0kx4nUiv11r3qmd1o1_1280-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/museums.cjh.org\/web\/pages\/cjh\/Display.php?irn=7102&amp;QueryPage=%2FOAI\" target=\"_blank\">Cast of Purim play (New York). 1936. [Subjects: Purim; actors and acting; Sephardim]. Yeshiva University Museum.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Chag Purim!<\/em>&ndash;Exploring the Collections for the Holiday<\/strong><br \/>by David P. Rosenberg, M.P.A., <em>Senior Reference Librarian &#8211; Collections, Center for Jewish History<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Purim is the joyous holiday that \u201cmarks the period Jews were barely snatched from the hangman\u2019s noose,\u201d as it is explained in <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000354074%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">Jayne Cohen\u2019s holiday cookbook<\/a>. The word \u201cPurim\u201d means \u201clots,\u201d as the evil Haman cast lots to determine the time when the Jews were to be killed. It is said that <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Encyclopaedia_Judaica\" target=\"_blank\">Purim<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/16thstreet.tumblr.com\/post\/14934411894\/using-the-archives-to-reflect-on-your-hanukkah\" target=\"_blank\">Hanukkah<\/a>\u2014which are sometimes called the \u201cDiaspora Festivals\u201d\u2014were \u201cinstituted by the Sages to commemorate miracles and bring to mind aspects of spiritual potential that come to the fore in time of danger to our national existence\u201d (from <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000114555%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cPurim\u2014its observance and significance\u2026\u201d<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The partners\u2019 collections here at the Center for Jewish History offer even more insight into how Purim has been celebrated\u2014and what significance it has taken on\u2014across hundreds of years of Jewish life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Glimpse\u00a0of the Collections<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The library of the American Jewish Historical Society is a good place to start exploring the celebration of Purim in America. One item that reveals a historic Purim event is an article from 120 years ago (which can be found in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000123412%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The sacred soil of America-A Purim celebration on Ward&rsquo;s Island in 1882<\/em><\/a>). It recounts the call for assistance for immigrants who needed the support of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and how a fundraising event in celebration of Purim contributed to this\u00a0cause in March of 1882.<\/p>\n<p>The call was in the <em>Jewish Messenger<\/em> of New York\u2019s editorials on March 3, 1882. It encouraged Jews to help fellow Jews who\u00a0had escaped\u00a0Russian persecution. \u201cIt is the duty of the American Jew to inspire them with olden merriment and make the festival a day of joy for those tempest\u2013tossed emigrants, by prompt and cheerful assistance,\u201d\u00a0it said\u00a0(p.\u00a0145).<\/p>\n<p>A week later, the response and events were chronicled in a letter to the editor: \u201cWhile most of our coreligionists were celebrating the feast of Purim in various ways, more than three hundred Jewish refugees on Ward\u2019s island were not slow in imitating their more fortunate brethren.\u201d(p. 147). It\u00a0added,\u00a0\u201cMr. Bergman was unceremoniously seized by half a dozen strong arms, bodily carried to the center of the room and repeatedly lifted up in the aid to the delight of the crowing babes\u2026\u201d(p. 148).<\/p>\n<p>(There are multiple Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society collections within the collections of the partners, including selected microfilm of the <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000126650%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">HIAS Boston arrival records<\/a>.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/cjh.org\/p\/61\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a> for a\u00a0family history database on the Center\u2019s website that indexes these records.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Selections: A Purim Play and Song<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In addition to the longstanding Purim tradition of giving charitable donations, many other Purim customs have evolved in Jewish communities. One\u00a0is the presentation of a Purim play as a means of celebration. <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000114558%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Haman&rsquo;s Conspiracy: A Purim Play (1910)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0has a touching finale that includes a solo by the character Harbona:<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Old Mordecai, an upright Jew, <br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To Hamen ne\u2019er would kneel;<br \/>The villain had an edict signed<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That no one could repeal<br \/>And Haman said that all the Jews<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His vengeance they would feel,<br \/>In every province in the land of Persia!&rdquo;<br \/>\u00a0<br \/><em>Lords and All (Chorus)&ndash;<\/em><br \/>&ldquo;Bow down bow down,&rdquo;<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ahasheras said!<br \/>&ldquo;Bow doan bow down,&rdquo;<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The wicked Haman said!<br \/>&ldquo;Oh no\u201d said Mordecai,\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 &quot;I am a good and upright Jew,<br \/>And never will I bend the knee to you!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000101608%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">The Purim Anthology<\/a>\u00a0has more than\u00a0500 pages of holiday material. One song by S.S. Grossman struck me: &ldquo;Ten Little Maidens.&rdquo; (It is sung to the tune of the old song &ldquo;one little, two little, three little Indians.&rdquo;) \u201cThe King saw many little maidens&hellip;he loved them not at all&hellip;the King saw sweet little Esther and loved her best of all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Family Holiday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000108533%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">Happy Purim with Fishele and Fraydele<\/a><\/em>, a storybook for Purim, can be looked at as a case study of children\u2019s materials and family values in traditional Judaism. The forward introduces the work \u201c\u2026children absorb knowledge very readily and also tend to identify themselves with storybook characters. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that they get the right impressions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There are many poignant statements in the storybook: \u201cAfter eating a good supper, and benching clearly,\u00a0[the children]\u00a0help in decorating the Shalach Monos cake boxes with glue and glitter.\u201d Other lines are, \u201cSince it is still early, Mrs. Freed decides to surprise the kinderlich with home-made Purim costumes. She makes them out of purple crepe paper\u2026\u201d and, \u201cOn Taanis Ester, the day before Purim, Mrs. Freed usually does the baking. Since Mommy is fasting Fishele and Fraydele do all the tasting.&ldquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Traditional and Transformed Roles for Women During Purim<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jayne Cohen&rsquo;s <em><a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000354074%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">The Gifilte Variations<\/a><\/em> has a recipe for chickpeas with garlic and barbecue spices. The cookbook states that chickpeas are a traditional food especially on Purim \u201cwhen they are served to mimic Queen Esther, who ate legumes and grains instead of the king\u2019s nonkosher food\u201d (p. 296). (You can learn more about cookbooks from <a href=\"http:\/\/16thstreet.tumblr.com\/tagged\/Cookbooks\" target=\"_blank\">this blog post<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>Women&#8217;s\u00a0traditional roles of cooking for the holiday, making costumes for children and even organizing Purim plays have been recognized\u00a0to\u00a0\u201cConstruct community including shared values by organizing and reorganizing ritual food exchange at the holiday of Purim\u201d (or, Shalach Monos as it is referred to in <em>Fishele and Fraydele<\/em>). <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000124484%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">&quot;Computing community at Purim&rdquo;<\/a> argues that \u201cpractitioners of ritual actively construct as well as reflect culture and community\u201d (p. 275). The article examines women organizing community based ritual exchanges of food and drink. The social norms of the community are examined alongside the community building activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Examples from the article\u00a0include how, like in many other communities, courtesy is a concern for the women of congregation Tifereth Israel of Forest Park Queens. Reciprocation is touched upon, stating that it is appropriate to reciprocate packages, even those that are unexpected. \u201cConsequently, households generally keep a generous supply of portions on hand to reciprocate unanticipated packages, and thus avoid open social rupture.\u201d(p. 280). The importance of presentation and appearances is also mentioned: \u201cThose who have a reputation as meticulous hostesses are expected to present elegantly designed and executed portions\u201d (p. 280).<\/p>\n<p>As the article puts it, \u201cIn many contemporary Orthodox communities in the United States shalach mones has, in recent years, been greatly emphasized and embellished\u201d(p 280). \u201cWishing relief from their increasingly burdensome workload on Purim\u201d(p. 281) the women of Tifereth Israel organized a fundraiser (akin to a similar program run by <a href=\"http:\/\/amitchildren.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amit<\/a>) where a computerized program helped them to participate the tradition of shalach mones while controlling \u201cthe undesirable elements of competition and display that badly crept into recent shalach mones exchange\u201d(p. 281). The computer would compile lists of recipients and the committee would distribute baskets with cards noting the contributors.<\/p>\n<p>I discovered another example of the transformation of the holiday\u2019s traditions in an exhibition catalog:<em> <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000128997%20&amp;format=999%2520\" target=\"_blank\">A different Purim sound : waving flags + ringing bells : an exhibition of Esther and Vashti Purim flags by Jewish artists<\/a><\/em>. An essay introducing the idea of Esther and Vashti Purim flags in the work (also available <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ritualwell.org\/ritual\/taking-back-purim\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>) explains that there are two stories expressed in Megillat Esther\u2014first, the easily influenced state of Jews in the Diaspora; and second, the story \u201cbeginning with a wife who is banished when she refuses to obey her husband and concluding with a wife who is listened to and given a significant amount of power.\u201d The author explains, \u201cWith the new ritual of waving Esther\/Vashti Purim flags, we encourage our communities to celebrate and more deeply explore both of Purim&rsquo;s stories. Purim thus becomes both a celebration of and reflection on Jewish pride and perseverance and an opportunity to honor women&rsquo;s power in the face of those who fear it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However you decide to celebrate Purim and Women\u2019s History Month, we hope you have a joyous day, and that your holiday includes exploring these items from the collections:<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; <a href=\"http:\/\/digital.cjh.org\/webclient\/DeliveryManager?pid=604966&amp;custom_att_2=simple_viewer&amp;search_terms=&amp;pds_handle=%20\" target=\"_blank\">Bible Coloring Book from 1904<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ndash; <em><a href=\"http:\/\/digital.cjh.org\/webclient\/DeliveryManager?pid=546930&amp;custom_att_2=simple_viewer&amp;search_terms=&amp;pds_handle=%20\" target=\"_blank\">A Playbill for Eshter: A Vaudeville Megillah<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&ndash; <a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000009462%20&amp;format=999%2520%20%20\" target=\"_blank\">Some of the dails on the\u00a040 Purim plays held by the partners, including A Gilbert &amp; Sullivan Purim shpil<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ndash; <em><a href=\"http:\/\/opac.cjh.org\/F?func=direct-doc-set&amp;doc_number=000114556%20&amp;format=999%2520%20%20%20\" target=\"_blank\">A cool Purim play!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>You can also conduct your own search for great holiday material by <a href=\"http:\/\/search.cjh.org\" target=\"_blank\">clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cast of Purim play (New York). 1936. [Subjects: Purim; actors and acting; Sephardim]. Yeshiva University Museum. Chag Purim!&ndash;Exploring the Collections for the Holidayby David P. Rosenberg, M.P.A., Senior Reference Librarian &#8211; Collections, Center for Jewish History Purim is the joyous holiday that \u201cmarks the period Jews were barely snatched from the hangman\u2019s noose,\u201d as it is explained in Jayne Cohen\u2019s holiday cookbook. The word&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[400,1016,398],"class_list":["post-2410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-blog-post","tag-david-p-rosenberg","tag-purim","tag-research-and-reference-services","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2412,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410\/revisions\/2412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}