Purim spiels: Skits and satire have brought merriment to an ancient Jewish holiday in America
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Eleff, Zev
Abstract
A central ritual in Purim observances is the reading of the Scroll of Esther to commemorate Queen Esther's bravery in foiling the plans of Haman, the advisor of her husband, King Achashverosh, to annihilate the Jews. Less well known is the tradition of the "Purim spiel," jocular, satirical plays that are performed in synagogues and Jewish schools. Eleff, a scholar of American Judaism, believes that these spiels are "carefully curated lampoon meant to allow for a limited amount of public criticism of rabbis and the institutions that support Jewish life." This tradition of satirical spiels became deeply ensconced in the United States, which, according to Eleff, serve as a "measuring stick of Jewish self-confidence in the New World." Click on the link to read the article.
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Purim, Religion, Holidays, United States