Giant puppets, acrobats, music, and tens of thousands of children in colorful costumes are packing the streets of Israel’s cities, major and minor. Many cities featured an Adloyada procession and numerous towns and villages host colorful street parties. Israel’s fourth largest city, Rishon Letzion, canceled its holiday event for security issues.
Adloyada is the Purim parade, a tradition dating back to 1912 Tel Aviv. The name is based on the rabbinic saying that one should get so drunk on Purim ad de-lo yada (Aramaic: until one does not know) the difference between “blessed be Mordechai” and “cursed be Haman.” It’s a deep musing about the relationship between good and bad in one’s consciousness, which one should avoid on Purim and simply get drunk.
In Netanya, Mayor Miriam Feierberg disguised herself as a princess and surprised the many children who came out to watch the procession. The mayor’s previous disguise was as suspect in a corruption scandal, so things ar looking up, at least on Purim.
The Jewish community of Hebron also produced a colorful Adloyada, marching to the Cave of the Patriarchs, with street actors and stuntmen, and hefty Mishloach Manot trays for the soldiers on duty this Purim.
Sounds sweet and happy enough, except for the news item on the procession courtesy of WAFA (Arab Media):
Jewish Settlers Hold Provocative Celebration in Heart of West Bank City
HEBRON, March 1, 2018 (WAFA) – Hundreds of fanatic Jewish settlers celebrated Purim holiday in a march in the heart of the southern West Bank city of Hebron provoking residents who were forced to remain indoors, according to local sources. The settlers walked around the old town of Hebron, where they are concentrated, banging drums and shouting anti-Palestinian slogans.
They totally missed out on the anti-Amaleki slogans, especially every time the name of an Iranian senior official was mentioned…
