Video: A Purim tale, ‘Drunk all year, but sober on Purim,’ in Yiddish with English subtitles
Master storyteller Shane Baker recites the classic writer I. L. Peretz’s story of a would-be saintly man diverted by a turkey
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Forverts Staff March 14, 2024
Just as American Jews enjoy celebrating Purim each year, Jewish residents of the Eastern European shtetl did so with great fanfare.
Homemakers sent their maids or children off with gifts of food, known as shalekh-mones, to deliver to nearby relatives and friends; alms were given to the poor, and children (and occasionally adults) dressed in costume. Come Purim afternoon, everyone either hosted or joined a festive sude (feast) to commemorate the Jewish victory in ancient Persia over the wicked Haman, who tried to annihilate the Jewish people. According to Jewish law, the celebrants are supposed to eat and drink without restraint.
In this Purim tale, “Drunk all year, sober on Purim” by the classic Yiddish writer I.L. Peretz, a would-be tzadik (saintly man) dreams of becoming a righteous man, but is diverted by a turkey. Master story-teller Shane Baker recites the tale in the original Yiddish, accompanied by English subtitles.
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