One of the most fascinating ultra-Orthodox groups on Purim - which has not yet received journalistic and publicistic attention - is the women's group, and their behavior on the colorful holiday.
My friend, the Haredi 10 wine expert Shraga Gebhard, noted in his professional list that there is no 'exclusion of women' in drunkenness. They get drunk faster than men and the effect of wine on them also lasts longer.
This is not the reason they don't get drunk, at least not Haredi women and at least not on Purim. The reason for this, of course, lies in the cultural context.
An ultra-Orthodox woman does not exhibit behaviors that are identified with masculinity, certainly not in public. Drunkenness, smoking, and driving a public vehicle are identified with the male gender, and an ultra-Orthodox woman is aware of the expectations that she cannot behave in this way.
In a circular way, unlike secularism, if you do this, you will harm her Haredi identity, and of course she does not want this.
But none of this prevents them from taking an active part in the excitement surrounding the men's drunkenness at the Purim feast.
Some, how can I say, are a bit confusing.
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The first reference comes in the early stages of the day, when the women and young girls are setting the table and saying to themselves happily: 'Just hope Shmi doesn't get drunk this year, no, I remember last year, he went completely crazy.'.
In their hearts, they hope that Shemi, and perhaps also Dad, will get drunk so that 'he will be happy,' because we have an axiom: 'A Purim feast without yeshiva students Drunks Not worth it.
The teenage girls call their friends and tell them about their older brothers coming from the fundraiser to have dinner with their friends, and say in a frightened voice: 'I'm really scared that he and his friends Will get drunk, "I'm shaking from drunks." Of course, if he doesn't get drunk, they'll glare at him and sentence him to death by torture for ruining the meal and ruining the beautiful conversation tomorrow at the seminar with the friends.
Fashionably late for artists, Shemai arrives with the short Aharle, who forgot to shave and grew a French beard in honor of the holiday, and with the tall Suissa, who wore a T-shirt that said, "Everything is frozen and cheap at Shlomovich's," and shouts loudly: "Where's the vodka?"'
Mom tells Dad: Keep the bottle away from him, but prays that he actually takes a sip or two, and he should also give it to Suisse, who is dangerously interested in the chocolates in the luxurious delivery to the boss from work.
Aharleh begins to sing melodies of the terrible days and bursts into heartbreaking tears.
Shimei stands on the chair, holding a bottle in his hand and wearing a hat taken from a Western set. He tries to interest the audience with his humor, and roars with joy at each new character who enters the house. At one point, he falls on the shoulders of the new and unknown neighbor Rosengarten and promises him eternal love.
Meanwhile, Suissa and Ehrle are arguing over a bottle of sweet wine for Kiddush, and they throw half of it off the table onto the floor.
'"'Save me,' 16-year-old Pessy screams with joy. 'There are drunks here.'".
The three young people move on to songs from the good old Land of Israel, only the devil knows where they heard them, and those present who want to eat the beef prepared by the mother of the house are starting to get a little tired of the fights over the chosen song.
But when Dad dragged Shimai into the room after vomiting his soul on the living room floor, tearfully promising that he loved him, and even begging for forgiveness in tears for all the trouble he had caused him, Pessi knew that she had won.
Her drunks were worth more this year than my lover's.
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