HAPPY PURIM (HALLOWEEN?)
McCain said:
"Nine hundred rocket attacks in less than three months, an average of one every one to two hours. Obviously this puts an enormous and hard to understand strain on the people here, especially the children. As they celebrate their version of Halloween here, they are somewhere close to a 15-second warning, which is the amount of time they have from the time the rocket is launched to get to safety. That's not a way for people to live obviously."
Gaff? The origins of the two holidays are different. But got the reality right. In any case, it is one holiday in which one is supposed to get so drunk that he/she no longer knows the difference between"blessed be Mordechai (the hero) and" cursed be Haman" (the villain). By conflating Purim with Halloween, Liberman instructed McCain was merely keeping with tradition.
After all, as Purim makes so clear, that "old-new land" has the"old-new enemies." Then, it was Haman,the Persian chief minister, who wanted to kill all the Jews. Today, it is Iranian president, Ahmadinejad. Just see who gets the pie in the face in this holiday rap. Or, better yet, listen to Sharon Huckel's lovely rendition of For Such a Time as This
Haman built a gallows Mordecai, he would not bow Haman built a gallows Mordecai is going downFor such a time as this such a time as this For such a time as this... Lord move these lips
Send out the word in Susa Send out this decree Lookout! Jews of Persia Haman’s planned a killing spree
For such a time as this . . . .
Send out the word in Susa Esther made a plea All ye Jews of Persia Pray and fast three days with me
For such a time as this . . . .
When the tables turn… which side will you be on? When the tables turn… which side, friend, will you be on?
In such a time as this, Lord loose our lips! In such a time as this… Lord loose our lips! Lord loose our lips... In such a time as this!
Haman built a gallows… now he’s coming… down
Are the holiday celebration different? You decide:
Chag Sameach (Happy holiday) one and all.