Most Purim costumes, whether homesewn or bought, have some
background biography in family lore. Faulty fabrics,
fittings, misfits and children's caprices. Endless searching
in stores for the appropriate costumes at acceptable prices.
But of all the scenarios I've encountered, my daughter Chasi
had the most unusual one.
It was five years ago and she was living in Odessa, Ukraine,
for the year, where my son-in-law, an Israeli, is the chief
rabbi [Ed. plus principal, orphanage head, senior citizens'
program director and every/anything else related to Jewish
relief and religion]. At present, he comes to Israel every
few weeks while my daughter remains in Jerusalem with the
children. For Yom Tov, they usually travel to the
Ukraine.
At that time in 1994, people were completely in the dark
about Yiddishkeit. A spiritual vacuum successfully
created by the Communist regime's total iron curtain. With
tremendous siyata dishmaya through glasnost, my son-in-
law, R' Shlomo Bakst, has succeeded in establishing high
schools, elementary schools, nurseries and an orphanage,
through the auspices of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach.
It is 1994 and Purim is looming on the horizon. My daughter
was doing her utmost to create the proper festive atmosphere,
complete with costumes for the offspring and a seuda
for some oldtime shul members. This was no easy feat
with only two hours of water running through the city's
controlled water system, limited electricity and frequent
blackouts. All of the children were outfitted with previous
years' creations. Only the oldest, Lakey, was in need of
something her size.
There was a seamstress in the large apartment building that
housed mainly gentiles and she happened to be Jewish. What
could be simpler that buying material and having it sewn into
a costume? But our seamstress didn't know the first thing
about Jewish customs.
Queen Esther was not a royal personage with whom she was
familiar. Chasi's description in rudimentary Russian seemed
to further cloud the picture, as did suggestions of a Dutch
girl, a Japanese lady and so on. Then, in desperation, my
daughter suggested, through pantomime of a mock wedding
ceremony, a bridal gown! Finally, a flash of comprehension,
and plans were made. Material was scarce, white satin a
rarity, and lace; a long forgotten luxury.
With difficulty, the essentials were assembled. For lace, the
seamstress pieced together some remnants. As for crown and
veil, since none could be bought, she kindly donated the one
she had worn at her own wedding. A bouquet of fresh flowers
(Odessans are wild about flowers and actually have a huge
open market only for fresh flowers) completed the ensemble
with a realistic touch.
Purim day dawned cold, but sunny, and the children dressed
with excitement. The bride, in all her pure white finery,
accompanied by her mother and colorful siblings, set out for
the long walk to the main synagogue, a magnificent structure
reclaimed by Rabbi Bakst, for the reading of the Megilla.
People were hurrying off to work, rushing for buses, walking
briskly. But almost everyone stopped short at the sight of an
eight-year-old bride, obviously on the way to her nuptials.
An unbelievable sight in a city that has witnessed many an
unusual phenomenon. Strangers, excited and gesturing,
approached the wedding party.
"Why are you allowing this child to marry?" they asked in
surprise mixed with indignation. [Russians are fiercely
possessive and protective of their children, one per family.]
"She's far too young!" With every noble attempt at
clarification and with every last word in her limited Russian
vocabulary, Chasi tried. But the mother of the bride could
not convey the spirit of Purim.
With some strangers actually trailing them out of curiosity,
they proceeded, stopping traffic, attracting attention and
introducing Odessa to its first Purim-on-the-streets in seven
decades!
[Editor's postscript: I was there. Today, five years later,
hundreds of children are getting a proper Jewish education
and a kollel has actually been established with
several couples and their children. May they all increase to
continue to defy the Hamans of all generations!]
state.
