Many are surprised when they hear that Nina is on Facebook. It was actually done in order to find out what the phenomenon was all about, and we were interested in hearing what people post. In fact, it is only Nina who reads it and is frequently shocked by some of the postings. As well, we have realized that there are those who are obsessed with it and post pictures of their family every day as if the entire world would be interested in seeing them, and there are others who think the entire world would like to know every time one of them goes to a supermarket and sees fresh dates on sale and assumes that everyone on Facebook would like to run and buy them. There are also the silly perks. Two days ago, Facebook sent us a “reminder” notice that two years ago on that day we posted a picture of ourselves (yes, we did) dressed in our Santa Claus costumes surrounded by snow in the background—it was Purim 2015!
As a family we have always reveled in the day itself. There are memories of our yeshiva days when guys, aka yeshiva bochurim, had difficulty getting across Amsterdam Avenue due to their intoxicated conditions, and the remnants of what were parties reeked for several days. For Nina, coming from a very “yeckie” family, this was a horror of horrors. (She had never been close to a drunken man until she was married on her first Purim.) The history of our family making large Purim seudot began with our days at YU and continued on throughout our married life until our move to Bergenfield where our children took over our task. (Yes, we miss it.) We recall as well the horrendous discussions on Purim years ago when bochurim who were inebriated drove and lost control of their cars. They are no longer celebrating Purim. Hopefully, roshei yeshivot are now more prudent about sharing their stash of alcohol with their students upon their customary visits. Simchat Purim should never turn into a tragedy.
We are extremely impressed that Yeshiva Heichal Hatorah invited the community to a Purim Mesiba on Motzei Shabbat and especially mentioned that alcohol was not allowed. Kol Hakavod!
Over the years we have assumed various personas. We have been Chassidim, ghosts, basketball players, various animals and other costumes that are just too numerous to recall. We would visit various g’virim in Montreal who would host hundreds and hundreds of people seeking matanot l’evyonim from them. At their homes, busloads of young men would arrive to sing and dance for the g’vir. We have not seen anything like this phenomenon in Teaneck. We assume that these actions are more common in the different communities of Brooklyn. We never saw hot dog and popcorn stands outside of homes in Montreal. Perhaps the weather was a factor in people refraining from doing these things. As there is a slight chance that there will be snow this year on Purim, we will feel right at home. We will dispose of our proposed Hawaiian surfer costumes and hope that maybe we will be able to use them next year.
We will quickly find something slightly more weather appropriate.
Happy Purim.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
