The Whimsical History of the Purim Spiel
Beis Yakov School for girls, Kolbuszowa, 1938
In a religion that really embraces the holy act of remembrance, specifically as it pertains to suffering, Purim is the welcomed reminder not to take things *too* seriously, and to embrace ecstatic bewilderment as a sacred act. But for those of us for whom mystical tomfoolery seems too abstract, history’s silly geese instituted a tradition of whimsical, irreverent theatrics to invite that playfulness even into the most austere of places.
The story of Esther is full of cosmic winks and giggles, which is what made Purim Spiels so hard to ban for Chazal, even when live theater was often violent and crude with the occasional on-stage murder. Sages of the Mishnaic and Talmudic eras condemned theatre for being frivolous, vulgar, and even pagan, and yet, because the themes of Megillat Esther play to the same elements of melodrama, disguise, and comedy, Purim Spiels were relatively commonplace throughout Ashkenazi Jewry of the mid-1500s. Medieval Europe saw the rise of not only the Akhashveyresh-spiel but other biblical stories complete with educational midrashot and aggadot, as well as relevant satirical shenaniganry, often aimed at rabbinical leaders and other authorities.
Because of its somewhat scorned reputation within public discourse, Spiels were performed mainly by students, musicians, artisans, or people who otherwise struggled to make a living. While the performances were delivered only by boys and men, the lax and borderline transgressive customs of Purim allowed performers to crossdress- only if for a night. They’d perform for money of course, but often for the opportunity to eat and drink with their benefactors during lavish feasts customary on Purim.
Students in Vilna, 1924
This is where the modern Purim Spiel got its start. After inspiring the Yiddish theater movement we’ve come to know and love, the original Purim Spiel continues to reverberate throughout the halls of Yeshiva High Schools, seminaries, and yeshivas today. Initially performed in yeshivas or large public venues, modern spiels have made their way to the highly accessible stage of the internet. Searching “Purim Spiel 2023” will likely result in the occasional satirical take on the Purim story, featuring humorous parodies of popular songs, but the past decade has brought an explosion of hyper-personalized spiels aimed at classmate antics, school admins, and trends within the student body. In many schools, creating the Purim Spiel is a time-honored tradition reserved especially for graduating seniors who care more about leaving a lasting mark on the student than maintaining their reputations as respectful pupils. Every year, dozens of irreverent parodies are uploaded to YouTube from different educational institutions without intending to be viewed beyond their initial school-wide debuts. Somehow though, some of these lighthearted (though highly specified and often unrelatable) clips have racked up hundreds of views. But what makes a Purim spiel good? Below are my best guesses as to what makes a successful Purim spiel:
Cultural relevance: We see you SKA. That bit on Tik-Tok circa 2020 was hilarious. Your jokes were relatable. Who wasn’t sick of seeing freshman renegade 2 feet in front of their phones between periods? You captured both and the collective administrative frustration around the emerging social media phenomenon. Plus taking the lunge at beauty gurus and all who worship them? You clocked James Charles before the rest of the internet did. Good work.
Viewers should be invested in the characters or story: We want to fall in love with that one senior who can’t seem to be admitted into any college or is constantly falling asleep during shacharit. We want to see development, an evolution if you will. Yeshiva programs in Israel will usually execute this well as the boundaries between students are already low enough- inviting a couple hundred more people in to laugh about how a few of you don’t shower probably won’t hurt too badly (Cough cough any program that claims it caters to the “philosophical thinker”)
The love interest: On the note of character development, you’re definitely going to want to highlight your school’s most eligible bachelors/bachelorettes. Those views gotta come from somewhere, and the truth is they’re often coming from high school has-beens nostalgically reliving their glory days, and many of them are in shidduchim. Getting a good part in the spiel is good publicity, and if you’ve waited long enough, many starring actors/actresses can be found either strolling Ben Yehuda, or a shadchan list near you. (Tiferet and YU, we’re looking at you).
Authentic spiel energy. It’s probably not a great spiel unless the school’s administration threatens to confiscate it. Remember, the original intention of these plays was to capture the backward, wayward, energy of the holiday. It’s about sanctifying the profane and laughing in the face of existential threat. Your script should be edgy- push buttons with your jokes, parody your teachers, and capture every element of your experience your school would prefer you didn’t publicize. Triumph over the existential threat your spiel places on your school, and the existential threat the administration poses on your video. If you get in trouble, remind them that even as lowly and downcast as the theater was in the times of Chazal, irreverent, gaudy, and often drunken spiels prevailed because of Purim’s transgressive implications. Lying (Esther), scheming (Mordechai), and evading harsh and cruel punishments (Jews of literally all antiquity) are all par for the course for this holiday.
Hopefully, this article has broken down the creation of a Purim Spiel to both an art and a science. The writer must balance their desire to roast their friend and faculty with cultural references that might entertain a more general audience while maintaining a general spirit of Purim throughout. Humorous subplots, witty dialogue, and catchy songs should be thoughtfully considered and artfully integrated. The goal is to keep the audience engaged and laughing, while still conveying the important themes of the Purim story- they tried to end us, but we prevailed.
Here’s to not getting canceled and Chag Semeach,
Rachel
