פורים -- תשע״ט -- intersectionality and DNA / written vs oral tradition

Things I noticed this year.

The written word: a statement on coercive force.

פרק א׳ פסוק כ״ב:
וַיִּשְׁלַח סְפָרִים אֶל כָּל מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה כִּכְתָבָהּ וְאֶל עַם וָעָם כִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ לִהְיוֹת כָּל אִישׁ שֹׂרֵר בְּבֵיתוֹ וּמְדַבֵּר כִּלְשׁוֹן עַמּוֹ:

Books, written in a very particular way, with no room for interpretation, directed at each dialect in the written form, define a power relationship in the home and moreover an impelled speech law.


Intersectionality: no individual responsibility

פרק ג׳ פסוק ו׳:
וַיִּבֶז בְּעֵינָיו לִשְׁלֹח יָד בְּמָרְדֳּכַי לְבַדּוֹ כִּי הִגִּידוּ לוֹ אֶת עַם מָרְדֳּכָי וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הָמָן לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל מַלְכוּת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ עַם מָרְדֳּכָי:

The moment when Haman shifts from looking at the individual to the tribal affiliation, Mordechi is not just an individual who upsets him, rather he must attack the entire Jewish nation.

Interpretation: Dangers of interpretation without context

פרק ו׳ פסוק ו׳:
וַיָּבוֹא הָמָן וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ מַה לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר הָמָן בְּלִבּוֹ לְמִי יַחְפֹּץ הַמֶּלֶךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת יְקָר יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי:

Haman thinks he understands the context.  The chapter opens with a book and a reading.  Leading up to the gross misinterpretation of Haman of the words of the king

The power of the written word:

פרק ח׳ פסוק ח׳:
כִּי כְתָב אֲשֶׁר נִכְתָּב בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנַחְתּוֹם בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵין לְהָשִׁיב:

Read-only, once written may not be overwritten/changed, the DNA is set.

What to do....the Jews finally understand the power of the oral tradition to reinterpret the written text.  The DNA does not change, but the epigenetics open the door to a solution.  The interpretation provides a garment to cover the written word.


Clothes make the man and illuminate the written word:

פרק ח׳
{טו} וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה וְתַכְרִיךְ בּוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן וְהָעִיר שׁוּשָׁן צָהֲלָה וְשָׂמֵחָה:
{טז} לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשֹׂן וִיקָר:

Mordechi dresses up the words and the Jews find the light in the interpretation.

The final chapters play out with a practical guide, how do we recognize the balance between the written and oral traditions.  The chapter describes tradition and action, celebration with concern for the destitute.  Accepting the rule of law and the flexibility of local interpretation, two types of cities, a rule yet embodied very differently depending on your community.

Purim Sameach