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38 | FESTSCHRIFT

rim; celebration, however, is not, even if it stems from an external source. in other
words, the theme of Purim is the cultivation of a sense of perspective and joy in life’s
blessings and a diminution and deemphasizing of its anguishes.

10) Whether or not the above is correct, is it the undisputed, if not unanimously
endorsed, fact that Purim has become associated with levity and humor. Rishonim
discuss a relaxed attitude toward demanding compensation for damages incurred
in the context of Purim celebration, an implicit agreement in order to facilitate exu-
berant merriment. In later generations, the controversial practice of the “Purim
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shpiel” took shape, in which humorous skits would be performed, often includ-
ing the lampooning of individuals, including respected figures such as rebbeim and

rashei yeshiva. Along with this development came the somewhat less problematic
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but still controversial custom of delivering “Purim Torah”, in which divrei Torah or
lectures would be offered using contorted logic or purposely misread sources, pre-
sented to evoke laughter rather than the inspiration and enlightenment normally
expected. The story is told about Purim in the Volozhiner Yeshiva: “during R. Itzeleh
[Volozhiner]’s tenure as Rosh Yeshiva...R. Mordechai Gimpel Yaffeh, one of the best
of the students, was chosen as Purim Rav. When it came time for him to deliver his
shiur, the students gathered around him. R. Itzeleh, too, listened. The Purim Rav
delivered a sharp and well-reasoned discourse to answer an apparent contradic-

tion between the words of a Yerushalmi and a halachah cited by the Rambam. The
students turned to R. Itzeleh and complained; the Purim Rav had not fulfilled the
requirements of delivering a shiur that was not substantiable. R. Itzeleh laughed and
said: “The pilpul on its own is true Torah, but the Rambam and Yerushalmi upon
which it was based do not exist.”
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Regarding the shpiel, different yeshivot developed different approaches. Certainly,
the current practice in Yeshiva University has been to allow and support shpiels

34 See Mordechai, Sukkah 2:742; Tosafot, Rosh, Agudah Sukkah 45a; Rama, Choshen Mishpat 378:9; R. Yisrael
Grossman, Responsa Netzach Yisrael 15; R. Binyamin Yehoshua Zilber, Responsa Az Nidbaru IX, 49. Note also
the discussion of R. David Shperber, Responsa Afarkasta D’Anya (1:148); and of R. Alter Gilrenter, in the journal
HaEmek, (vol. 64, pp. 16-20).
35 See the brief survey of the history of this practice by Zohar HaNegby in R. Daniel Sperber, ed. Minhagei
Yisrael, VI, pp. 201-202).
36 Zev T. Paretsky, “Reservoirs of faith: The Yeshiva through the Ages”, Feldheim Publishers, Jerusalem?New
York, pp. 270-271; also brought in Dov Eliach, Avi HaYeshivot, Jerusalem, 5751, p. 202, citing the work “Volozhin”.
My thanks to Zev Ellef for these references.