PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: Tuesday, March 14, Elphinstone Hall, 黑料网, at 3.00pm
A rare and priceless collection of Jewish books and manuscripts, which form some of the finest collections in the UK, will form the centrepiece of a special event next week as the 黑料网 celebrates the Jewish Festival of Purim.
The celebrations will be held at the University on Tuesday (March 14) where members of Scotland鈥檚 Jewish community, including the Rabbi of Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, David Rose, will gather to commemorate the special holiday.
Organised by Dr Nathan Abrams, Lecturer in History at the University, in conjunction with the Aberdeen Hebrew Congregation, the event is believed to be the first of its kind to be held at the University.
Upwards of 150 people are expected to turn out for the carnival-like festivities, including a large group from Aberdeen鈥檚 Jewish community. There will also be Jews from communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh, while some groups will make the journey north from London to be a part of the day鈥檚 festivities.
Dr Abrams, who specialises in Jewish history, said: 鈥淧urim is one of the most fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther in which we are commanded to eat, drink and be merry! It is also tradition to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts for charity.鈥�
One of the highlights of the celebrations in Aberdeen will be a guided tour of the University鈥檚 unique collection of Judaica. The University safeguards a quarter of a million rare books and manuscripts, including a rich collection of over 1,000 items related to Jewish religion and history.
The collection also includes two scrolls of text from the Book of Esther, which have particular significance for the Festival of Purim.
Dr Abrams said: 鈥淭he University鈥檚 priceless collection dates back to the University鈥檚 17th century purchase of the Hebrew Bible - dated 1493-4 - as well as the Biesenthal Collection 鈥� one of the most complete collections of Rabbinic literature in the UK.
鈥淭he words written on the scrolls is the whole story from the Book of Esther and the reading of the text by Rabbi Rose will be one of the highlights of our Purim celebrations.鈥�
Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. The 13th of Adar is the day that the villain of the story, Haman, chose for the extermination of the Jews, and the day that the Jews battled their enemies for their lives. On the day afterwards, the 14th, they celebrated their survival.
Dr Abrams said: 鈥淲e have great fun at Purim and it鈥檚 great for the kids too as they enjoy the tradition of booing, hissing, stamping their feet and rattling noisemakers whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the service!
鈥淧urim is a real family festival and we encourage people, especially the younger people, to get dressed up and bring along their own noisemakers鈥�.
The University event, which will be held in Elphinstone Hall, King鈥檚 College, will also welcome people from other faiths.
Dr Abrams said: 鈥淭he Festival of Purim celebrations at Aberdeen will be an inter-denominational event and we are delighted that the University Chaplain Rev Easter Smart will be attending.鈥�
The event will begin with at 2.00pm with a welcome and tour of the University鈥檚 Judaica Collection within the University鈥檚 Special Collections at King鈥檚 College. The celebration of Purim will get under way at 3.00pm with the reading of the scrolls, culminating with authentic Kosher refreshments.
Dr Abrams added: 鈥淎 common Jewish treat at this time of year is hamentaschen, known as 鈥楬aman鈥檚 ears鈥�. These triangular fruit-filled pastries are supposed to represent Haman鈥檚 three-cornered hat and will form a traditional part of the celebrations.鈥�
The 黑料网 was the first University in the English-speaking world to permit Jews to study medicine in c. 1739.
鈥淎berdeen has a rich collection of Judaica which reflects the University鈥檚 continuous commitment to the study of Hebrew and Rabbinic literature,鈥� added Dr Abrams.
鈥淭here is an active and vibrant Jewish community in Aberdeen - and elsewhere in Scotland - and the Festival of Purim is a vital part of a ceremony that still has great meaning to members of the Hebrew community.
鈥淚 hope that this event will promote the University鈥檚 stated commitment to the promotion of Jewish Studies and to providing world-class resources for those that wish to study it here. I also hope that this will the first of many future events involving the Aberdeen Hebrew Congregation.鈥�
Dr Abrams is perhaps the only person currently working on both American and Scottish Jewish History in a comparative perspective and also is furthering our understanding of Scottish Jewry through his groundbreaking work on the smaller Jewish communities of Scotland, including Aberdeen.
A vital part of his research are the University鈥檚 archives. His work is currently being disseminated through publication and conference participation all over the UK.
Further information about the Festival of Purim at the 黑料网 on Tuesday, March 14, is available by contacting Dr Nathan Abrams on (01224) 273110 or email: n.abrams@abdn.ac.uk.