Cruising for love
Men in lion and dog suits, women wearing fluoro wigs and a magician with a top hat and baton; it doesn’t sound like a religious festival, but it is.
Making friends Photo: Anna Tiwary
Rachael Kohn goes on a Purim party cruise to find out what it’s like to be young, single and Jewish.Nothing worries the Jewish community more than disappearing. One of the smallest religious minorities in Australia, at a half of one percent of the population, Jews must make a concerted effort to continue. That means a lot rides on the young, single and Jewish to find a mate who can carry on the traditions of Judaism, including festivals like Purim.
Known as an occasion for zany dress-ups and comedy entertainment, the spring festival of Purim is just the place to search for love, because among the religious obligations of the day is the command to get drunk. Liquid courage can definitely help people lose their inhibitions and if you’re like Sarah, an attractive and bright student at the University of Western Sydney, it may be just what’s needed to loosen up. In the usual venues of work and school, she has found it difficult to find that special someone who she romantically described as her ‘other half’, the one with whom she would want to build a home and have children.
‘I guess I want to make the right decision, make the right choice. I don’t want to hurt other people, I don’t want to hurt myself, I don’t want to build a relationship and have it fall apart,’ said Sarah. ‘I want to marry once and stay married.’
‘I’m too careful. Maybe I need to have a drink, have a few more drinks. Get a bit more happy … I’ll try, I will, absolutely, why not, it’s Purim!’
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I’m all for fun but G-d help us all if you need to get drunk to do so. That’s just sad and pathetic.