Thursday, March 13, 2003

It’s almost Purim - the

It’s almost Purim - the most drunken carousing holiday in the Jewish calendar!  Monday night marks the kickoff.  We are obliged to give charity, eat sweets, and party our asses off.  We’re supposed to drink until we can’t tell the difference between the good guy and the bad guy in the Book of Esther.  And for those of us who would be hard-pressed to make such a distinction even in the sober light of an ordinary day such as today, I offer my magnum opus: Rashamontashen is the entire book of Esther, retold from the points of view of all four main characters.  It’s a cool story, and not a very theistic one.  God is never mentioned, and there’s some cool ass-kicking.  What’s more, in this time of increased tension between western powers and Iraq, it’s a story that takes place in Baghdad ("Shushan") that links the fates of those who are now commonly considered enemies of each other.  So get a tall cool beverage, put up your feet, and party till the sun comes up.  And for what it’s worth, my hamentashen cookies are far and away the world’s best.  This year’s selection will include prune (traditional), raisin, pluot and carmenet wine, nectarine, and mixed berry.  The dough’s chilling, the fruit’s been pureed, and all I need now is some bourbon for the celebration.  Let’s get righteous!