Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PAGE 18 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE March 21, 1986 Ask the Rabbi Rabbi Joe Comprendo Answers Your Most Frequently Asked Questions Rabbi, why do we eat hamantashen on Purim? Why not? Rabbi, why do we wear costumes on Purim? Just as we drink wine on the Sabbath, but not as a general rule on other days; and just as we eat in booths on Succot but not as a general rule on other days; so too do we wear non-stylish, unattrac tive clothes on Purim, but not as a general rule on other days. We call these garishly colored, ill-fitting garments “costumes,” and often when we wear them we are moved to dance and behave in an uninhibited manner. Rabbi, why do we wear masks on Purim? See the above for a clue. Rabbi, is there any historical significance to this holiday? Certainly. At this time, we commemorate the devotion to Ha- Shem of Mordecai, the bravery and cleverness of Esther, and the force of Ha-Shem in history, the utter incompetency of Ahashve- rosh, and the centrality of the white horse in Persian life. Rabbi, is there a mystical or more elusive meaning to Purim? You’ve got to be kidding. Rabbi, why do people exchange gifts of baked goods and delica cies on Purim? It is my considered opinion that they do this all the time, but on Purim they put the food into fancy containers they bought on sale at Tuesday Morning. Rabbi, what is your favorite Purim story? My great-grandfather, of blessed memory, was known for his extravagant Purim costumes, usually adapted from my great grandmother’s old clothes. He began to sing and dance on his way to the synagogue, so great was his joy; and his jovial attitude was even more enhanced by his wearing a disguise. Or so he thought. Since he was one of only three men in his village who were under four feet ten, he was hard to miss. Except for his shoes, that is. Yes, go on. There’s no more to tell. Such was life in the shtetl. Rabbi, do you have any advice about Purim for our younger readers? Indeed I do. If you eat poppy seed hamantashen and prune hamantashen at a steady two-to-one ration, you’l! be all right! Editor's note: Rabbi Joe Comprendo will answer questions about Passover next month. 0gp Pupiwspielep Student reaches ‘weathering heights’ Poring through historical re cords at the Atlanta Historical Society last month, an Emory University sophomore, Beth Dinn, discovered a misfiled document, which proves—beyond any rea sonable doubt—that The Temple on Peachtree Road is indeed The Temple of ancient times. As part of a term paper she is researching on tornadoes and intercontinental air currents, Beth was led into a quiet corner of the Atlanta Historical Society ar chives, where documents concern ing edifices which have been moved by cataclysmic weather conditions are stored. She had just finished taking notes on the site changing of a large pink-colored home on Peachtree Battle, when her eyes became riveted to a yel lowed drawing of The Temple on Peachtree Road, but in slightly altered form, indeed looking very much like a drawing that hangs in her grandparents’ home in Miami. That drawing is of The Temple which stood in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, and which was sup posedly destroyed by the Romans. The paragraph under the photo graph which Beth found in the archives described a large, beauti fully classic structure, which sud- Tired of cruises for the svelte and the toned? Tired of the Love Boat and her mesmerizing Mermaids? Forget them and relax in the company of those less up-tight and less tightened up! Now you have the chance to belly up to the maiden voyage of the BAGEL BOAT and her mouth-watering Matzoh Belles!! Your cuisine-catered cabin awaits you...Ports of Call to tantalize all tastes. •Borsch Bay •The Straits of Gefilte •The Infamous Nova Lox of the Panama Canal Morris Bette-Hur, agent for Koshercabana Cruises sailing the first Sunday of every month with an “R” in it TELEX: MORE IS BETTER Beth Dinn denly appeared on Peachtree Road, during a two-day tornado siege, and which Atlantans had at that time considered the result of a record-breaking construction phenomenon, especially in the midst of bad weather. Her curiosity piqued, Beth in vestigated further and learned that, as recorded in city records of that time, the sudden appearance of The Temple did cause people to marvel and in some cases increase their pledges to Federation, but at no time was there any suggestion that this newly arrived building was one and the same as The Tem ple of ancient times. She also noted that Atlanta and Jerusalem share the same latitude. Beth continued her research and ended up in Jerusalem, Israel, where she convinced curators at the Shrine of the Book to open their vaults to her and three other Emory sophomores, whose par ents had given them trips to Israel for maintaining a “B” average. To the total amazement of all con cerned, it was determined that The Temple was not totally decimated by the Romans, but that in the midst of the destruction a tornado appeared, referred to in scholarly texts as “ruach Ha-Shem,” first removing the structure to Easter Island, then to an island in the Gulf of Mexico and finally to Atlanta. “This process took 2,000 years,” commented Paul Plotnick, presi dent of The Temple Men’s Club, “but it was worth it. Atlanta, one of the most historic of cities, is the proper resting place for such a sig nificant building, which has played an undeniably pivotal part in the ethical past of the Judeo-Christian world, indeed of all mankind. How appropriate to have The Temple on Peachtree Road, conveniently located near other landmarks, like the High Museum and The Center for Puppetry Arts!” For the role she played in this high drama, Beth Dinn will be the recipient of the Young Investigator Award by the Rabbinic Court of the Atlanta Chamber of Com merce. A plaque in her honor is being presented to Emory Univer sity by The Temple, inscribed with the following: “To Beth Dinn for her contribution to the continuing search for improved weather con dition information.” “If it weren’t for my natural interest in universal weather pat terns, and the support of all my devoted professors, I never would have found my way to the Histori cal Society Archives!” Beth ex claimed. Beth’s parents are Dr. and Mrs. Gregor (Gunga) Dinn of Hauppauge, Long Island. Knesset konfidences Our correspondent, Ami Ha Aretz, writes from the Holy Land — We are happy to let our readers in, concerning secret issues that are now on the desk of the Israeli government: • Nearing completion is the establishment of an investigative committee to determine if Morde cai was a Sephardic Jew or an Ashkenazic Jew. At first glance, it would appear that he (a Persian) was Sephardic, but in a special dig in the ancient capital of Persia, Shushan, a famous archaeologist unearthed documents that confirm that Mordecai’s parents came to Persia from Minsk in Russia. A possible resolution to this conflict would be an understand ing that Christopher Columbus be henceforth considered Ashkenazic by all parties so the Sephardic community can claim Mordecai as one of their own. Or vice versa 1 his issue will be decided by a spe cial Knesset subcommittee consist ing of representatives of both communities, the United States, West Germany and France. • During the coming Purim, there will be an official public read ing of “Megillat Esther” Part II, the continuing saga of what really happened in the palace after the saving of the Jews from Haman. It’s certain that producers are neg otiating about a movie and Leon Uris has received an “advance” to write a new book about the deeds of the descendants of the heroes of “Megillat Esther,” Part I. • A final tidbit from the Knesset that will surely reverberate in the halls of the U.S. Congress. ..a proposal will be presented, by Naf- tali Blitz of Shomer Ha Tsair of Mapam, to celebrate Purim monthly or at least bi-monthly, instead of once a year. There are many good reasons for this, most of them self-evident. Straw polls taken in Kiriat Arba and Afula show strong support for this change. What are your reactions!