The Genetic Code of Purim: ACGT
A True Chronicle about Antisemitism, “Cleansing,” Genocide and Terrorism,
Attempted and Averted – Thank G-d!
Cryptically Told to Confuse and Amuse!
In this adaptation of the Book of Esther, all words begin A, C, G, or T,
the four letters of the genetic code[1].
© Sarina Kopinsky, Genetic Counselor
UCD DNA Diagnostic Laboratory[2], Anschutz campus, Aurora, Colorado:
the center that tests gene changes causing childhood and adult genetic conditions –
also Tay-Sachs, Canavan, CF, Gaucher, and all those Ashkenazi conditions (though that’s another topic!)
Question: What does Purim have in common with DNA?
A: Huh – what? You talkin’ about the DNA double helix inside our cells? Genes and chromosomes?
A: Uh … We inherit both DNA and Purim from the Jews of Persia!
A: Duh … We loved biology class almost as much as we loved
A: Both are miraculous! Purim celebrates hidden miracles – events we can interpret as either coincidence or the hand of G-d! DNA carries all our genetic secrets! How miraculous that a simple “alphabet” of only four letters – A, C, G and T – spells out our entire growth and metabolism!
A: Nyaa – too serious – there’s no connection; it’s just an excuse for a fun Purim Schpiel!
You’ll find no direct mention here of
Megilla, miracle, Mordechai, Queen Esther, Vashti,
Haman, hamantashen, horses, harem, holiday,
Purim, Persia, pogrom, palace, Shushan, king, emperor, royalty,
fasting and feasting, party or banquet[3].
But we know you’ll get the picture!
An ancient[4] Tanach[5] tale: –
A cruel, arrogant tyrant[6] arose and convinced Achashverosh[7] to generate trouble against the country’s tiniest group[8] and create a time to attack them all, also the children, and to take their cash and goods – this gruesome action to go throughout the capital city[9] and all the territories, town and country[10]. The tyrant committed to give ten thousand coins to the treasury to cover the cost.
The tribe, good citizens, grieved and cried at their trials and tribulations. Their great chief[11], cousin[12] to Achashverosh’s attractive consort at court[13] (after the chief concubine[14] got the axe!) advised the girl to act appropriately to avert the threat. Trusting this advice, the girl gathered courage, gallantly appealed to Achashverosh, accused the tyrant, and turned the trouble to a glorious celebration.
And thus, the criminal act got turned around. Charbonah, an advisor to Achashverosh, told Achashverosh about the gallows at the tyrant’s address. The antisemite and ten children got the gallows, and Achashverosh gave away their assets. The twisted tyrant’s gigantic gallows, aimed at curtailing a Torah[15] giant, actually curtailed the tyrant, thus achieving G-d’s goal, that the tribe continue and not cease to commit themselves to the Torah’s commandments.
Achashverosh told the tribe to gather and take action, at the appointed time, Adar Thirteenth[16], against anyone attacking them. The concerned gentile community asked to affiliate themselves to this group to avoid any collateral calamity. The terrorists that attacked got the treatment they tried to cause, and thankfully, a colossal genocide was averted[17]. Goodbye to all those antisemitic thugs!
Achashverosh advanced the cousin, giving glory, gorgeous clothing, a golden crown, and a court appointment.
The tribe all agreed, at that time, to adopt this commemoration[18] as their accepted custom. They continue till today, alive and thriving, celebrating
G-d’s greatness and apparent coincidences. They also thankfully acknowledge good Charbonah.
Today their communities congregate at community centers and tell these anecdotes to their children, chanting the traditional trope tunes[19]. They clap Graggers[20] to condemn the tyrant’s grievous actions. They give gifts[21] (the children accumulate a generous candy collection) and charity[22], and add al’hanissim[23] to their Grace[24] and Amidah[25]. The talented among them act the tale at carnivals; their costumes conceal the truth and confirm that things aren’t always as they appear.
To copy the girl’s advance arrangements anticipating a court appearance and a treacherous confrontation about the crisis, the tribe’s adults afflict their appetites[26]. Then they cheerfully consume triangular cakes[27] – confections called after the tyrant’s three-cornered cap.
They cook tasty cuisine to celebrate[28], and also tend to consume alcohol “ad-lo-yada”[29] – a controversial act, as getting tipsy apparently transgresses Torah according to certain Gedolim (great Torah teachers), and can cause trouble among teens and adults alike! Anyway, the alcohol and carousing at Achashverosh’s court already created ample trouble, according to certain commentators!
Today another terrifying tyrant[30] controls that country[31], and tries again to afflict G-d’s chosen tribe and their ancient territory[32]. They aim to achieve this awful goal (tu!-tu!) – to create an atomic apocalypse against this tribe and against
(Go ahead – compose another add-on chapter. This can amuse, and train the thinking.)
Can goodness triumph, converting all terror to creative greatness? The Torah teaches that this can come about, against all gambling tendencies, at a time[33] that all creation gives cognizance to Torah’s truth and carries this great challenge to completion!
[1] http://www.eurekascience.com/
[2] www.uchsc.edu/DNALab
[3] But G-d’s name, which does not appear in the Megilla, is spelled out, so to speak, in this ACGT version.
[4] About 352 BCE
[5] The Book of Esther, in the Writings section of Tanach (Bible)
[6] Haman the Agagite, descendant of Amalek
[7] King Ahasuerus, Ataxerxes II of
[8] The Jews
[9] Shushan
[10] The
[11] Mordechai
[12] Cousin or uncle, whatever
[13] Queen Esther
[14] Vashti
[15] Torah: lit., the Five Books of Moses; metaphorically, Jewish teaching in general
[16] In the Hebrew calendar
[17] Would have been the Persian Holocaust!
[18] Purim
[19] Reading the Megilla scroll containing the Book of Esther
[20] Graggers: Noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name
[21] Mishloach Manot (Shalach Manos), sending servings of Purim delicacies
[22] Matanot La-evyonim, gifts for the needy
[23] Al-hanissim: Prayer thanking G-d for miracles
[24] Grace after Meals
[25] Amidah, the focal point of all daily prayer services
[26] The Fast of Esther
[27] Hamantashen, yum!
[28] The Purim se’udah, festive meal
[29] Ad-lo-yada: Until it’s a challenge to recognize evil when it stares you in the face – lit., until one can’t tell the difference between Bless Mordechai and Curse Haman! Wow – just can’t figure out the difference between a hanging and a hangover!
[30] Ahmadinejad, aka Ah-Madman-Jihad
[31]
[32]
[33] The Messianic Age
This is brilliant!
ReplyDeletePurim Sameach
Eliminate the word "was" in the last
ReplyDeleteline of the 4th paragraph -- jf("y")s