Confused About Aspects Of Non-Jewish Culture, Haredim Celebrate Purim In Mea Shearim

Purim picture of the day.

[Hat Tip: Dreidel.]

Comments

[Yochanan Lavie]

Merry Purim.

[Jsan]

This is hilarious. And is the mother pregnant?

[harold]

Very cute. Thanks for the picture. Purim is a blast how people come up with creative ways to get one to chuckle and get into the spirit of fun. This is our season to be merry. Ho Ho Ho! Merry Purim to one and all!

[sammy]

It pays to buy wholesale. Cheaper by the dozen.

[bmos]

The picture is at least 2years old and has been making the rounds of the internet for that long. old news yawn.

[Shmarya]

The picture is at least 2years old and has been making the rounds of the internet for that long. old news yawn.

Funny thing is, even with at least 2 years of Internet publicity, haredim continue to do the same thing.

[BK]

I heard a shiur from Rabbi Zev Leff about this. He asked why the Jews were told to take Egyptian clothes with themselves when they left Egypt, when the midrash states that clothes was one of the 3 ways in which the Jews distinguished themselves from the Egyptians. What changed about the clothes that suddenly made them permitted?

He suggested that this is similar to how people from Meah Shearim use Christmas decorations in their sukot. The Meah Shearim folks don't associate nonJewish traditions with these decorations. So for them it is permitted. But we Americans (and probably most of the world) have this association, so it would be inappropriate for us.

Similarly, the Jews could take the Egyptian clothes and use them after they left Egypt. They no longer had the negative connotation associated with them once they were no longer in Egypt.

[Shmarya]

These aren't "non-Jewish" clothes – they're clothes used specifically for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. And that makes them forbidden.

[harold]

they're clothes used specifically for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. And that makes them forbidden

If they would be forbidden then they would not be wearing them therefore I must conclude that they are not forbidden.

These clothes are not used in religious cerimony, they are worn as costumes even by the goyim. I am sure that even at christmas time I would assume that it would be in bad taste to come to church services dressed in a Santa costume.

Purim people dress up in the strangest outfits, men dress up as women, clowns, political figures, monsters, you name it. Lighten up, anything goes, everyone knows that, thats what Purim is all about.

[Shmarya]

Please.

They wear them out of ignorance, not out of some heter.

[Dr. Dave]

Actually the clothes come from a coca cola ad in the early part of the last century.

Didn't you ever wonder why Santa dressed like a can of coke - red and white?

There was no set uniform before the ad - which is why the suit is mostly seen in american depictions of santa.

And remember - santa spelled sideways (sort of) is satan!!

[Chayim]

There is nothing wrong with dressing up like our enemies. Many Jews dress like arabs,Vashti, and Hamen. Fact is without Hamen we would have no purim. Its when secular jews decorate their homes with christmes trees on x mas or wear costumes on holloween that is the problem. The picture is a beautiful scene of a jewish family happily walking together proud and happy to be Chareidi Jews. CHAREIDI POWER NUMBER ONE.

[Bilaam's Ass]

from Pious encounters... this guy was real analytical, see, with an authentic Yeshivish mind, and he had some insight to share.

“Shvartzehs are like animals, they only care about the present. That’s the fundamental difference between black people and white people. White people plan ahead; blacks act mainly on instinct, and only occupy themselves with temporary gratification.”

It reminded me of an old incident with my mashgiach in Yeshiva. I’d begun listening to talk radio, and somehow it reached the mashgiach’s ears. He summoned me to his office.

“You shouldn’t listen to goyish commentary,” he said. “They’re like animals. Chazal—our revered sages—in their infinite wisdom called non-Jews an am hadomeh l’chamor.” That last phrase is so coarse, I hesitate to translate it for the benefit of any non-Hebrew speaking readers, but I’ll do it anyway, because as I indicated, I’m going for honesty here. Am hadomeh l’chamor. A nation that is compared to a donkey. That sums up the goy in rabbinic literature. That sums up the goy to the Torah-true Jew.

My mashgiach didn’t differentiate between different types of goyim. It was all one to him. It was us and them. If you’re not us, you’re them. And if you’re them, there’s one definition for you. Am hadomeh l’chamor.

[chabadnik attorney]

I do not believe that a Santa Costume or Christmas lights are considered Avodah Zara. You may find Jews with knee jerk reactions to the holiday decorations but that doesn't make it asur. The decorations and Santa are a part of the commercialization of the celebration of the birth of Jesus but are at most only a remembrance of the religious import of the day (if that). The same would even apply to a cross which would not be considered avodah zara. Accordingly, I believe, a Jew can sell Christmas trees or crosses for that matter.

See this article if you are so inclined

http://www.kof-k.org/article/040308030457W-34%20Contemporary%20Avodah%20Zara%20Issues.pdf

[harold]

Would have been funnier if all the children had the white beards as well.

A Freiliche Purim to All!

[critical_minyan]

i bet thats how the whole chasidic outfit started. someone had some extra purim costumes in Poland and sold it at a discount to Hungarian chasidim as extra special holy, mehadrin kosher clothing.

[Bill]

Looking at the picture....

The joke is that the Santas' daddy and mommy are wearing all black instead of the More festive Christmas red?

[harold]

The joke is that the Santas' daddy and mommy are wearing all black instead of the More festive Christmas red?

Usually in Purim the children dress up in costumes, not the adults.

[Jack]

Hold on, can we go back to harold's laughably ridiculous logic?

"If it was forbidden, they would not be wearing them, therefore it is not forbidden"

There is only one name for that logical fallacy: you're retarded.

[Jon]

... note the magical hat the kid holding on to the stroller is wearing. You know, the one that goes through his alleged father's coat as though it's air.

Photoshop, people. Move on, nothing to see here.

[harold]

"If it was forbidden, they would not be wearing them, therefore it is not forbidden"

There is only one name for that logical fallacy: you're retarded.

From a purely logic point of view the statement was incorrect, but from a reality point of view it is valid. If it was wrong halachicaly then a ruling would have been declared against such costumes and they would not be wearing them, however as was stated above, this costume was worn by people for purim for at least two years and no one issued a ban on wearing them. So as I said before, the fact that they are still wearing them implies that there is no probation (at the moment) against them. This does preclude that a prohibition against wearing them will be forthcoming, but until it is challenged, it is allowed.

We are not dealing with a problem in Mathematics or Logic here; we are dealing with people and religion. The ebb and flow of what is allowed and not allowed is in constant flux. One day we can ride on Shabbos elevators one day we can’t. One day we can eat Wild Salmon the next day we can’t. In America, one day we can drink alcohol, the next day we can’t, then we can again. What is right and wrong is a statement of the moment. Many times what is allowed, is allowed until someone sates that it is not allowed, and one simply says, ok, I won’t do it again. So at the moment the wearing of Santa outfits is allowed until someone (other that Harav Hagoan Scotty) says you can’t then I can assure you the Haredi family that you see pictured will stop wearing them.

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Purim!

[Voice of Reason]

Usually in Purim the children dress up in costumes, not the adults.

Actually, the Haredi are always in costume: 18th century Poles.

[Mikal W. Grass]

The Haredi family is just having a bit of fun. I am sure that they understand the significance of dressing their children like Santa Claus.

Shmyra, I really like your site. However, last night I dreamed that I received a call from a Chabad Rabbi in Tel Aviv who wanted my fax number. I never received the fax, but the dream had to be related to my reading this site as it was the last website I read before going to sleep. Guess it is still safe to continue reading this site.

[bootsy]

---Funny thing is, even with at least 2 years of Internet publicity, haredim continue to do the same thing.---

If you mean that they still are dressing up like santa THIS YEAR in mea shearim, I have news for you...

Purim isn't untill monday in Jerusalem...

[R]

Hey I posted that on facebook! It is the funniest thing on the planet. And btw they don't just do it in Israel, they even were selling little santa teddies on chanukah in the UK...

[Yochanan Lavie]

'Twas the night before Purim, when all through the shul

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mule;

The stockings were hung by the aron with care,

In hopes that St. Mordecai soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their pews,

While visions of humantashen danced in their shoes;

And mammaleh in her 'kerchief, and I in my kipah,

Had just settled down for a late winter's sleepa,

When out in the shul there arose such a clatter,

I looked from the megillah to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of chatzot to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should show,

But a miniature grogger telling Haman to go,

With a little old maidel, so lively and festive,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Esther.

More rapid than eagles the groggers they rattled,

And they whistled, and shouted, as Haman they battled:

"Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha,"

To the top of the gallows! to the top of the tree!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away thee!"

As slush that before the morning sun plops,

As the temperature rises, like a tchinek is hocked,

So down to the bottom of the halters they dropped,

With the sleigh full of shalach manot, and St. Mordecai too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the shul

The dancing and applauding of each happy Jew.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Mordecai came with a bound.

He was dressed all in purple, from his head to his tuchus,

And his clothes were all garnished with kasha and varniskes;

A bundle of shalach manot he had flung on his back,

Like a Lower East Side peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how freilich!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a dreidel! [wrong holiday!]

His droll little payot were drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight like a villain,

And the smoke it encircled his head like tefillin;

He had a broad face and a little round pupik,

That shook, when he laughed like a tray full of cupcakes.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Yid,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of my Id;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his keppie,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to worry;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his avodah,

And gave us shalach manot; then drank Mountain Dew soda,

And laying his finger aside of his payot,

And doing a schuckle, the chimney he went up;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a yashar koach,

And away they all flew like a Chabad shiliach

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of the way,

"Happy Purim to all, and to all an oy vey."

[Shmarya]

... note the magical hat the kid holding on to the stroller is wearing. You know, the one that goes through his alleged father's coat as though it's air.

Photoshop, people. Move on, nothing to see here.

If you blow up the picture you can see there's another kid mostly hidden behind the father. You're seeing that kid's hat.

[Jon]

I don't know what you're talking about - please clarify.

Additionally, no one besides the two girls on the left has a shadow.

[Shmarya]

I don't know what you're talking about - please clarify.

Clarify? What don't you understand? There's a kid behind the father.

Additionally, no one besides the two girls on the left has a shadow.

I don't see that.

[chabadnik attorney]

Yochanan, amazing. Happy Purim !

[Yoel Mechanic]

My first impression of this picture was: what a charming naivete.

[effie]

Yes, I know these photos are from last year. At first I was going to ask what's with the kids pretending to smoke. But scrolling farther down, some of them look like they are actually smoking.
http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/gallery/Purim_Celebrations_in_Jerusalem/1646/

And the adult should get off the little donkey.

[Chayim]

One day when we Chareidim take over Israel we will take all the secular colleges and turn them into yeshivas. Nothing wrong with that. Great Rabbis like the kalever turned goyish songs into Jewish ones. All the evolution storage rooms will be cleaned out for Torah classrooms. CHAREDI POWER NUMBER ONE.

[Rachel]

This is just an adorable photo!!

[Yochanan Lavie]

Thanks, CA. Happy Shushan Purim.

[william e emba]

A friend of mine told me how someone he knew was shocked to see posters of da Vinci's The Last Supper being sold around Sukkos time in Bnei Brak. He went to the proprietor and asked him whether he was aware of who That Guy in the middle of the poster really was. Well, he did, and asked the fellow to be quiet, since it was his best selling poster!

[harold]

A friend of mine told me how someone he knew was shocked to see posters of da Vinci's The Last Supper being sold around Sukkos time in Bnei Brak … it was his best selling poster!

A tribute to the genius of da Vinci and Haredi eye for fine art. They obviously did not recognize the picture, or in all probability, never saw the painting before, but its beauty apparently was appreciated. Anyway at least it has a Jewish connection since according to some of the Gospels it was a seder meal.

I would however love to be a fly on the wall when someone enters one of those sukkos and tells the sukkah owner just what he has hanging on his wall.

[ted]

Imagine if these chaps combined Pesach
and Easter ? They would have an Egg Matzoh
Hunt.

[insolemn]

Santa Claus costumes mean nothing because during Purim most costumes are acceptable as long as the body is properly covered. Notice that there are no belly dancers, but I've seen someone in Bnei Braq dressed as a catholic cardinal or the pope. Smoking by children is also permitted on that one day. It's not encouraged but neither stopped, simply due to ignorance.

[Adam Neira]

Lovely photo of a family having a bit of fun.

[Michael Makovi]

I’ve wondered if perhaps this Haredi couple knows exactly what their kids are dressed as, but is banking on their neighbors not being so cultured. Think about it: I doubt you can just walk into a Haredi clothing store and buy six Santa suits, without knowing what to ask for. It’s not like they’re regularly carried in Meah Shearim! So they must have specially-ordered them from somewhere, knowing full well what they were buying.

[Shmarya]

I doubt you can just walk into a Haredi clothing store and buy six Santa suits, without knowing what to ask for. It’s not like they’re regularly carried in Meah Shearim!

Actually, they are.

And so are Easter Bunny paraphernalia and other related things.

This has been in issue for many years. I remember having a Shabbos meal at a haredi home in Jerusalem in 1987 served with santa paper napkins.

[R]

i prefer the christmas decor for the sukah.

[goldie]

when i saw this i was startled i thought that jewish people did not dress up in secular costumes .

[harold]

I remember having a Shabbos meal at a haredi home in Jerusalem in 1987 served with santa paper napkins.

Must have been on sale.

The main thing is to make sure that the napkins get soiled. Sort of like we utter the name of Hamen on Purim, but we make sure that we bang or use the gragger or when we utter name of Hitler we usually follow it with Yemach shemo v'zichro. When we use Santa napkins we must make sure that it gets nice and dirty.

[Anon]

There are candy cigarettes that have powder inside that blow out to look like smoke. They sell them around Purim time and kids love pretending that they are smoking. Go figure!

[harold]

There are candy cigarettes that have powder inside that blow out to look like smoke. They sell them around Purim time and kids love pretending that they are smoking. Go figure!

I used to do that some 50 years ago. Classic, it had something like talcum powder in it. I think my barber used to give it out to children after he gave them haircuts. Brings back memories.

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