Purim: A Parade of Parody

We all know about Purim spiels, shticks, and other forms of fun and ridiculous spectacle that help contribute to the joyous atmosphere of holiday, and so it shouldn’t really be a coincidence that a large amount of parodic material is popping up all over the place online.

Combining the modern trends of over-publicity as well as the numerous ways of creating and getting out there pretty much whatever you want, along with the overbearing attitude of giddiness and mischief that captures the Jewish spirit during the Purim holiday season, several videos and other forms of parody have hit the airwaves in great levels at this time of year.

And on a side-note, another reason we see a lot more videos out there is because maybe… just maybe… observant Jews are finally realizing that we don’t always have to take everything we do so seriously. And that it’s okay to laugh and make fun of the some the absurd things we do. If this is the case, then all the reason more to love Purim.

While there are several videos out there, I’m only gonna focus on a few videos that have very recently gone viral. Except for this one. You already know why…

Maccabeats new Purim Song video: The Lame Remains the Same

Back in December, I talked about the Maccabeats, the Yeshiva University  cappella group and their video “Candlelight,” which brought in over 4.7 million hits on You Tube. Although extremely catchy, I honestly can’t stand that song. Even worse, I couldn’t even go on Facebook anymore without being bombarded with the overkill of linking to the video. In the end however, I decided to take the high road and compliment the group for capitalizing on the weak taste of today’s society for the sake of their own popularity as well as in finding a way to publicize a better understanding of the holiday via song.

I concluded by saying that “I look forward to their next big hit about how “they tried to kill us, failed, so we feast” celebration.”

But after watching the group’s newest song and video entitled “Purim Song,” I would  like to take that back that previous statement… Because I never wanna look forward to something that lame ever again.

10 Posts From 2010 Worth Remembering

When I look back on 2010, dear G-d I hope I can find some kind of solace and strength from a year I honestly want to forget and move on from… But if I can’t, I can always look back on some of these ditties that came about via this blog. Here are some of my top/favourite posts from this past calendar year:

Hanukkah: It’s all about the music

Music is appropriate for a ton of things, like having a good time (or getting through a bad time…) and holidays are no different in this matter. And while everyone knows the famous X-mas songs (whether they like them or not), for Hanukkah, one might think the chosen people certainly don’t have much to choose from when it comes to serenading one another amongst the holiday season. Sure everyone knows Maos Tzur and whatever tune they have for Haneiriot Hallalu, but after those two, the traditional options of song become much limited in genre (and in overall quality).

Loser List #15: Ku Klux Klan costume wins first prize at Halloween party

They couldn't give the prize to the transvestite Vince Carter?

 

More unfortunately, this was local news here in Toronto/Southern Ontario.

Loser List #14: Jason Marquis pitching on Yom Kippur

So I know Jason Marquis isn’t the only professional Jewish baseball player, but that’s not going to stop me from picking on him for pitching on Yom Kippur.

That’s because here at TevyTown, we find it necessary to illustrate in great detail the idiocy or lack of common sense that drives people to do stupid things. Remember kids, don’t hate people, hate the stupid things people do.

And I hate how Jason Marquis, 32 (born in Mahasset, NY & raised in Staten Island) made his scheduled pitching start for the Washington Nationals this past Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, a night that coincided with Kol Nidre, the beginning of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the year on the Jewish calendar. The 25 hour holiday, beginning at sunset on Friday and concluding one hour after sunset the following day, celebrates the day that G-d forgives the Jewish people for their sins throughout the past year. The day is spent mostly in synagogue, with congregants immersed in serious prayer, while restricting themselves from various physical pleasures such as eating, drinking, bathing etc.

Heartfelt gratitude & a clean slate: My Yom Kippur message

Tonight begins the holiday of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the year Jewish calendar. While the day holds an immense amount of importance in both its significance – G-d forgives us for all of our sins from throughout the year, and its customs – fasting, non-leather shoes and extremely long yet certainly meaningful prayer services, I’ve been having a hard time really getting excited for holiday this time around.

Shana Tova!! Here’s to a successful 5771!!

As I’m writing this I’m about to take a nap, so if this post seems messy, I think you get the picture.

But regardless, I just want to wish all my Jewish readers a very healthy, happy and successful new year. Tonight marks the beginning of the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, which translates into the start of a new Jewish calendar year. And while the change of weather outside is somewhat cathartic, if not a pathetic fallacy to a changing of the season – no further do I need to look than at myself while searching for sense of change, if not a new beginning altogether.

While it’s no secret that this year didn’t turn out to be that awesome of a year (in fact, I’ve called it the worst year of my life on more than one occasion), that’s all in the past now (or at least I’d like it be that way…)

For now I have more important things to forward to – like my last year in university (for now…) at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. G-d willing I should have a Journalism degree at the end of the school year. And while that burden should hopefully be lifted soon (and without too much pain), G-d willing many other personal burdens should be lifted as well….

And in part in making things better, here’s hoping I can get to know you better. Who is you, you ask? You can anyone really… My parents, my friends, whether close or distant, family members, rabbis, fellow students and pretty much anyone I come into contact with. I cherish and value every relationship I make and encounter and I hope you can reciprocate the same feelings in return. And if it’s hard, well then we’ll just work together at it. Ain’t that the essence of a relationship – a partnership between two or more entities with a common goal in mind to achieve. G-d willing, whatever the goal may be – we’ll achieve it together… and grow stringer as a result.

Shana Tova!!

Purim: A break from depression

Tomorrow begins the holiday of Purim, and on the occasion of this wonderful holiday, I’ve decided to break the indefinite blogging hiatus in honour of the special holiday.

Even though this is my first post since my hiatus message, I am still dealing with a number of issues of which I am not ready to disclose through the blog or by any other means of social networking. I appreciate those who have offered their assistance and I am grateful for  those who haven’t given up hope on me. It’s been an up and down roller-coaster ride, with seemingly good moments but mostly overshadowed by ugly ones and those who have been there for me have helped make those good moments shine brightly and create optimism for the future.

I won’t make this long because I know people are getting ready for Purim/Shabbat, and I don’t want to take anyone away from pressing needs…

Purim is a happy time of the year and no matter what ugliness is going on, there’s always that assurance that things will work out as long as you keep trying and keep the faith. Even though at this precise moment I feel completely disgusted with how I have handed myself this past week in preparing for the holiday, most evidently at the current time as I sit here having not eaten all day, on little sleep, and having spent all day making a costume that I don’t even know if anyone will see it… I’m not even close to being ready for shabbos and I don’t know if I even want to be ready… I still feel very alienated by the people closest to me in my life, but deep down I know that I am the one responsible for that, and I must suffer the consequences of my bad decisions.

Nonetheless, Purim will help ease the pain. Temporary it may seem – that pleasure, but most definitely worth it.

Rabbi Dessler teaches in his book entitled Michtav Eliyahu, that Purim is a time that we can reach very high levels of spirituality by means of physical indulgence. The direction of that indulgence is the key.

So for this Purim, I leave the message of doing what we can to utilize all our strengths, skills, and whatever traits we possess towards a proper and meaningful direction. I pray, with G-d’s help that this will not only come about on Purim, but also for the rest of existence.

Have a great shabbos and chag sameach to all.

Loser List #8- Fundamentalist Orthodox Christians in Moldova

Allow me to present to you my newest favourite video to hate on:

What we have here is a blatant example of antisemitism. In public. And where are all the people trying to stop this disgusting display? No police?