The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-03-20
THE FESTIVAL OF PURIM

ulation of 6,O60,415. Francis Joseph
of Austria-Hungary has the next larg-
est number of Jewish subjects, 2,246,-
103. Germany stands third, with
615,O29. The United Kingdom has
l'245,209 Jews, and France 100000.
Ttaly's Jewish population is $4,000,
and Spain's is 5000. The remainder
of European Jews, 633,419, are to be
found largely in Turkey and the Bal
kan States, with a comparative few
in Scandinavia and the smaller coun-
tries of western Europe.
Thus it will be seen that the for
tunes of the great masses of the Jews
of the world are bound up in the war,
and it is small wonder that the 2,194,-
O61 Hebrews OF the New WorId-of
whom 2,O43,z62 are in the United
States-feel tremendous and vital
interest in the world struggle. There
are very few American Jewish fam
lilies which have no relatives immedi-
ate1y concerned in the war, and vast
numbers have, been plunged into
mourning by tidings from overseas.
Yet during the Purirn festival the
gloom lifts, just as it did in those old
days when ghetto walls enclosed their
settlements, and when the inhabitants
of this city within a city made merry
although constantly exposed to the
menace of Christian hate and persecu-
+.on. Boldly and def1antly, or in fear
and trembling, according to their
spirit, the people of the ghetto pre-
dicted the coming of the day when
their enemies would be vanquished-
when another Mordecai and another
Esther would arise to protect them
against plottings of the Hamans.
In most of the enlight ened nations
of the world the Jews will celebrate
Purim with the feeling that much of
their predicted triumph has already
become a reality. Today. in America
fT-in
they stand on an equality with other
peoples. The old animosities are rap
idly dying out, and the outbursts of
the old bigotry are few and far be-
tween. In most communities on this
continent today the Hebrew is no
longer a man apart If he cherishes
the outworn spirit of revenge he will
bring upon himself something of the
old hatred. If he stands with the vast
majority who permit bygones to be by
cones, he finds himself judged upon
his record man, and with no door
closed against him that his social, ed
ucationa1 and financial achievements
permit him to enter.
While the higher critics among both
Hebrews and Christians are now in
clined to dismiss the story of Mordecai
and Esther as historical romance,
the work of some early Jewish play
wright, the celebration of Purim has
Fact or fiction, the incident upon
which Purim is based is SO apt an
of the vicissitudes of Israel
that it will never he abandoned. Man
or myth, Hannah stands as the type
of IsraePs cruel oppressors, and as
such he will ever be held up to OBJ
loquy.
It is stated in the Talmud that the
reading of the book of Esther in the
synagogue was instituted by the Great
synod of which Mordecai was a mem
Der. At a. later period women were
required to attend the Purin services,
because it was a woman, Queen Esther,
who was instrumental in effecting the
deliverance of her people.
The present day observance of
Purin, in its religious aspects. is
marked by much solemn and stately
ceremonial. The book of Esther is
read from written scroll. In former
times it was customary for the con-
gregations to hiss and stamp their feet
whenever Humans name was mem
toned. and after the services the cere-
rnony of burning Harnan in effigy was
very popular.