We’ve all seen it and laughed but it’s really not funny- anymore. Today with the advent of social media, there’s really no such thing as a ‘private’ joke. A cute picture or a harmless comment often finds its way onto social media and is immediately misconstrued as racist or worse. The outrageous actions of a few unthinking people, force many of us to hide our faces in shame. This need not be. We all need to better understand that every action, big or small, has a potential reaction. A private prank or an insensitive costume on Purim, once no big deal, can have serious repercussions as we’ve seen all too well. Don’t take my word for it, ask Assemblyman Dov Hikind who meant no harm a few years ago. Social media has changed all that. Nothing is private if it’s posted on twitter, whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook etc… The secular media has hungry reporters looking for stories about us. Don’t become one.
I particularly point to the centuries old custom of hanging an effigy of Haman. Today unfortunately we Jews know all too well how it feels to be singled out for harassment. Be it a bomb threat or the always horrific swastika, we understand hatred and we understand intolerance. But we are not alone in that feeling. Other communities particularly minorities, suffer discrimination too. They, like us, know how it feels to be targeted and we need to be sensitive to that reality. They don’t understand the harmless symbolism of the hanging Haman the same way we do. They have their own interpretation. Think about it. Look, I love Purim and I absolutely hate political correctness but we are in galus and must be sensitive to our world around us. Double parking, public drunkenness, and bad behavior is something we can all agree is not appropriate, even on Purim. We have neighbors, Jews and non- Jews alike, who need to considered before vomiting on their lawn or blocking their driveway. It’s just not cool or Jewish to run around all night screaming at the top of your lungs disturbing sleeping neighbors. Please by all means go out, collect tzedokah and have a blast but remember who and where you are. Enjoy your private party but try to keep it private. Let’s enjoy the concept of live and let live by not blaring loud music that disturbs everyone. It’s Purim not marti-gras. Many of your gentile neighbors don’t understand how such special people could behave so un-special. Show some humanity from those you expect the same from. Think about it.
Now I know what your thinking, who does this guy think he is? I’m you and you are me. We are both trying to live our lives peacefully in galus as religious Jews. Don’t look for reasons to criticize this article or the writer, instead find reasons to embrace the opportunity to make a Kiddush Hashem. So to review, if you think dressing up as a member of a minority is a clever idea, think again- it’s not. If you feel like hanging up an effigy of Haman in dread locks, please reconsider the broad ramifications of your actions. Giving haters the opportunity to accuse us of being racist is preventable if you just think. We are lucky to live in America and this land provides us the incredible right to practice our religion how we wish. But nobody has the right to act in a way that insults, disturbs or demeans anyone. We are a great people, let’s act like it. Just think. Have a happy and safe Purim.
Sincerely,
Mordechai Hayehudi
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
17 Responses
Why do we need a reminder to always act like mentch’s? Ad d’lo yada is no excuse to lose your keser.
Feh. Don’t try to change us Yidden from practicing Purim or any other Yiddishe yuntif or simcha as we have for centuries. You’re not the first reformer trying to force us to change our minhagim. Nor will you be the last. But we’ve persevered over all your ilk and we will continue despite your objections.
Totally agree ! Keep the celebrations with anshei shlomeinu because others can interpret your behavior or action as attacking and denegrading them , hence , hatred towards us will become worse!! Think before you attempt to behave in a way that can be interpreted by others as denigrating and attacking them!!! Not worth it!!!
Not funny. But pathetic. This galus mentality is the reason why all Jews must come home to Israel.
Beautifully Written!!!! Thanks YWN For Such A Great Articles!!!
פורים שמח!!!
well said.
Sigh… Time for the centuries old Adar custom of condescending op-eds…
I want to add…
Many people will not have a chance to read this article so please make it your responsibility to help others who may not realize the ramifications of their actions.
Joseph, what is considered celebrating a Yomtov with simcha to you? Double parking, maybe drinking to the point where one vomits on the street or uses nivel peh, perhaps its making liter in the streets with empty candy wrappers, or is it playing music louder than music played at Yankee Stadium? Which one is it, Joseph? I like the one of double parking your car over a neighbor’s driveway or a hospital driveway, since that type of simcha and minhag has been played out for centuries (even before horse and buggy were invented), right?—- Well written article, points are taken.
Very well said. Let it be a SIMCAH SHEL MITZVAH, not HOLLELOOS (very loosly translated to partying with bad behavior). The goyim hate us anyhow so do not give them another reason to hate us even more. Dont’ be jew IN THEIR FACES. Learn the megillah, learn some seforim on the the KEDUSHAH of PURIM, so that it that KEDUSHA influences your SIMCHAH in a positive and MEANINGFUL way.
Joseph, what is a yuntif?
The author is not discouraging anyone not to celebrate Purim. He is merely trying to point out that people should have Kovod habryiyos and consideration for other people
I’m not sure why that is so Unjewish.
Elazar Valk; and “at home in Israel” it’s OK to mock the gentiles? Like it won’t make it onto social media if it happens in Israel? Even if every American Jew moves to Israel tomorrow, would there suddenly be no need for any U.S. support?
The article is 100% correct, and I hope everyone takes it very seriously. Keep the Purim celebrations indoors and use common sense when dressing up.
Leave the Galus!!!!!!!!
Come celebrate Jewish Holidays without constantly looking over your shoulder thinking what will the goy say.
Nothing like being Home.
Dear Elazar and Berry95
I hate to brake the news for you, but you are still in galus, EVEN IN ISRAEL!!! Galus is more a ruchnius’dige thing then the gashmius’dige part, and from the churban habayis until the moment Moshiach comes, klal yisrael is in a status of galus with all it’s meanings bgashmius and mainly bruchnius, and it does not matter at all where on earth the individual is located.
Now, to the gashmius’dige point that you 2 probably referred to, well, I lived there for 7 years, and am deeply involved every day in the daily life news of Israel relating to jews who live according to the torah, and may
I surprise you by announcing that the sad fact is that Israel is the most antisemitic country today on the planet. It is currently the most hating place on earth towards judaism and the holy torah. Thats a fact!!! Enjoy.
Thank Hashem – yes, we are spiritually in galus, but we are also at the time of עקבתא דמשיחה, so חוצפא is on the rise, as stated in the Gemara, so that is not to say that Israel is chas ve-shalom anti-Semitic. There is probably been only handful of kings of Judah or Israel that have done even a fraction of what the state of Israel is doing for Torah institutions. I am not saying that they are righteous, but kollelim and yeshivas are supported by the government (not enough, still) and there frum public is encreasing daily, there are hundreds of thousands of seforim coming out all the time, Yerushalaim now has a frum Jewish majority and this will only continue and continue until all of Israel will be do teshuva and be frum.
Yes, we welcome our brothers and sisters to join us here in Israel. And yes, even here in Israel we need to remain respectful and civil in our celebrations. Purim should inspire others, not push them away. Purim should show how we get drunk differently, how we celebrate with true simcha. Here in EY, we still have more opportunities for growth in this area across every community. Smoking on purim is a major issue, and in some communities I have seen more than a few children just 4 and 5 years old smoking on purim. Drinking at a seudah with lively divray torah and singing, beautiful. Drinking on the street and passing out at a bus stop? Unacceptable. In other communities, there are opportunities to improve the modesty of over-the-top costumes and the themes chosen.
We all have opportunities to grow this purim. Let’s make it count.
berry95, in Israel you may not be looking over your shoulder to hear what the goy might say, but instead you are looking over your shoulder to see if the goy will stab you. Hate to break the news to you, in Israel you are in golus too