Scene I observed on Purim 5772:
It's Purim Seudah Time. A middle aged man, obviously in his cups, is taking some fresh air sitting on a folding chair outside a home celebrating a Purim Seudah. No doubt the site of his cupping. He is heavy-set, his beard is graying and his head is alternately lolling back or looking down. He is clad fairly sedately as Purim goes, regular dark suit, white shirt and conservative necktie. The only indicia of Purim in his getup are the Rattan Pith Helmet on his head and the white gartel circumnavigating his considerable girth.
A gaggle of children , all of whom are perfectly sober, have gathered around the funny man who proceeds to make slightly tipsy chit chat with them. A bold young girl about 9-10 years of age gives the aerating drunk a thorough once over, casts a precociously jaundiced eye on his inexplicable get-up and the following conversation ensues:
CHILD: What are YOU supposed to be?
ADULT: What am I supposed to be? I'm supposed to be a Talmid Khokhom and an ehrlikha yid. Unfortunately I am a grubba Ahm Ho'Oretz and a very sad excuse for a Jew.
4 comments:
Nichnas yayin, yatza sod?
for sure. What fascinated me was how differently the adult heard / understood the question from the way it was actually meant.
Seems to me that you know this man pretty well. The girth gives it away. :-)
Suddenly...I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh Shushan Purim, morgin is ois, came suddenly
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