Cantor's Pick of the Week - Monday, February 20, 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023

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Cantor's Pick of the Week

by Arlene Frank

Shoshanat Ya'akov (Rose of Jacob)

by Rabbi Shmulik Moscovitz

Bravo, Rabbi Shmulik! Bravo!

In this week’s Cantor’s Pick we meet the former Chabad Rabbi of Flagstaff, AZ. He is wearing fake blonde tendrils and a Bavarian or Swiss Mountain hat, while singing a humorous “oompah pah” setting to an ever popular Purim poem, Shoshanat Ya’akov. The only things Rabbi Shmulik might also need is an overflowing beer stein at hand, a geshry (cry out) of a mountain top yodel and a few gleeful polka dance steps around the sanctuary.

I am just finding out that there are few communities that sing this poem Shoshanat Ya’akov the same way. There seems to be a huge variety of melodies; I only knew the Conservative/Reform classic tune! Rabbi Shmulik’s charming rendition was far too precious not to share as a Cantor’s Pick.

Here is the full text:

And here is the translation:

The Rose of Jacob thrilled with joy and exulted when they beheld Mordechai garbed in royal blue.

You have always been their salvation, their hope in every generation, to make known that all who place hope in You shall not be put to shame, nor shall all those who trust in You be disgraced, forever.

Cursed be Haman who sought to destroy me; blessed be Mordechai the Jew.

Cursed be Zeresh the wife of [Haman] who terrified me; blessed be Esther who [interceded] on my behalf.

Cursed be all the wicked; blessed be all the righteous; and may

Charvonah also be remembered favorably.

The majority of the characters from the Book of Esther appear in this poem; Mordechai the Hero, Esther the Heroine, and the evil, bloodthirsty Haman and his colluding wife, Zeresh. Pretty easy to figure out the clearly defined lines between the good and the evil in the Purim story. The result? The good people of the Book of Esther are blessed and those that conspire to commit evil deeds against the Jews are cursed for their actions.

By the way, Charvonah was the King’s servant/messenger who enters into the Purim story at critical moments when the King must see what’s happening and needs to act quickly. With his timely guidance, Charvonah eventually helps to save the Jews.

And so it goes, as we all await the opportunity to blot out the name of Haman with our groggers and then cheer the exploits of our Hero and Heroine. As they say; That’s the Whole Megillah!

Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Holiday of Purim) and thank you for spending this time with me,

Cantor Arlene Frank

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