Museum Musings Archive

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Megillah Case, CCA 1940, Eretz Israel Copper and silver case by Smilovitz with inlaid semi-prescious stone.  In memory of Herman Rosen by Mrs. Rosen

"Be Happy—It’s Adar"

Why do we speak these words, when Megillat Esther is a drama of political intrigue, deception and death? Those are not happy words; to the contrary, they conjure up images of grand opera—in particular, of Tosca. So why does the Talmud proclaim: MI-she-nikhnas Adar marbim b'simhah. ("With the start of Adar, our joy greatly increases.")?

The answer (and the difference between Tosca and Esther) appears in their finales. The beautiful Tosca, enmeshed in a devious plot promulgated by a no-goodnick, hurls herself from a parapet and dies; she becomes just another tragic heroine. But, faced with an untenable situation created by another no-goodnick, Esther comes to her king with honesty, and her tale ends on a positive note. Esther unmasks the evil plot—and she lives. Moreover, her determination and candor saves the Jewish people, and Esther becomes a hero for all time. Thus, our happiness at the festival of Purim celebrates both the redemption of the Jews and the courage to tell the truth and to stand on principle.

If Adar takes on a festive atmosphere, this is not because of the Talmudic declaration marbim b'simhah. Many cultures have similar festivals that turn religion on its head. Merriment, masquerade and costumes abound.

In The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, Frankel and Teutsch comment that these times of societal "inversion" provide psychological release from the confusing strictures of traditional law and custom. In the Jewish calendar, Purim (which commemorates the victory of the Jews over the Persian villain, Haman) serves this function. We dress in costume, we whirl groggers to drown out Haman's name, we shout and holler during the reading of Megillat Esther, and we hold a carnival. Our joy is supposed to grow every day and carry us all the way to Pesah (in order to link the redemption of Purim to the redemption of Pesah—which again carries us through the year and back again to Purim.

Occasionally, a "Little Purim" (Purim Katan) was observed to commemorate a community's deliverance from danger. Mishnah B'ruah 688.6 teaches that, "the townspeople of a particular locale can enact for themselves and charge those who come after them to observe a Purim, on the date they experienced a miracle."

So, in spite of the evil political machinations found in Tosca and Megillat Esther, tragedy was averted for both Esther and her people. The wicked Haman reaped the rotten fruits of his malevolence. Adar is indeed a time to be happy. Megillat Esther teaches us that "right over might" rules the day.

--Ruth Page, Museum Director