Drum Ensembles For Haman - Fit or Misfit?

A number of years ago someone related to me that the minyan in New York where he heard the megilla on Purim had someone there with a drum set, who would bang away on it when Haman's name was read, which bothered him. He didn't feel that it was fitting. To me it seemed bizarre. I didn't recall encountering such a thing myself. Maybe I had previously seen someone with like a small portable single bongo drum or similar (even that I don't know). But a professional drum ensemble? To me it seemed like there was maybe some crazy guy there who brought it in and the Rav didn't want to fight with him, so he tolerated it once (or twice) a year.

Then, subsequently I saw a video clip online of Purim at a congregation in Russia, which showed the same thing (also here as part of a larger report).  And, all the more so, there it seemed to be formally ensconced, up on stage as an officially sanctioned, sponsored part of the proceedings, not just something a private individual brought in of his own accord.

I thought that it might be beneficial to articulate what makes me uncomfortable about the idea of such a thing at the Megilla reading.

a) Such ensembles typically are associated with, and accompany instrumental music nowadays, as opposed to acting alone with a negating connotation of a type of stamping out (as in stamping out Haman harosho), or sounds of derision. They can be seen as highlighting Haman, even somewhat celebratory perhaps, rather than putting him down. As an interesting side point, in the Torah itself drums are mentioned at Kriyas Yam Suf (where Miriam took a drum with other women following after her, and they danced and sang praise to Hashem), in a positive context, accompanying shira (song).

b) What was lacking with other ways of reacting to Haman's name employed in the past (e.g. stamping feet on floor, grager), that this new practice was innovated?

c) To specifically bring in someone with advanced equipment as a noisemaker seems strange, as if that custom is followed, it should by done by attendees in general, as opposed to by a (hired?) designated professional, who might make amateurs trying to do so feel superfluous.

It is true, that there is an expression in English about drumming someone out, but that is a different type of drumming.

Agree? Disagree?

A Freilichen Purim.


P.S. While you are here, you may enjoy the following past Purim related posts as well -

Davening on Taanis Esther or Purim - Which is more mesugal, which the more auspicious time?

Will Purim Be The Only Yom Tov Left Standing After Moshiach Comes? Let's Take a Closer Look

The Missing Havdalah of Purim

Simcha of a Litvak - How Rav Aharon Leib Steinman Modeled and Radiated True Torah Joy

We are now in the month of אדר, when שמחה is on the front page, so to speak.

But from where does true, authentic שמחה emerge and flow? We are talking about holy and wholesome simcha that the Torah wants us to have, of course, not improper levity.

As discussed here in the past, fundamental sources of simcha are תורה and ישרות. Straightness and truth. Conversely, the opposites of Torah, straightness, and truth, lead to opposite feelings of עצבות, sadness.

Even within Torah study itself, there are gradations and levels of simcha it would seem. The more straight, deep, and true one's Torah is, the more authentic and hence simcha inducing it should be. When someone is עוסק בתורה לשמה, toils in Torah for its own sake, the pure motives lead to a pure result...a straighter, more honest and pure strain of Torah. That Torah produces so much joy that the person involved in it, overflows with simcha, and hence, as Chazal say (Avos 6:1) he is משמח את המקום, משמח את הבריות, he gladdens both (so to speak) the Creator and His creations, his cup runs over with joy which is shared with others, gladdening both G-d and man. When someone is oseik in Torah lishmah for decades, getting progressively deeper and more profound (factor in what the mishna says in the name of רבי שמעון בן עקשיא that זקני תורה, as they age, דעתן מתישבת עליהן additionally, for added measure), the joy continues to increases exponentially.

The above may sound fine and well in theory, but is it actually true? Is it seen in actuality, in real life?

Yes, I would say so......and we could point to the recently נפטר (passed from this world) gadol Rav Aharon Yehudah Leib Steinman z"l as an illustration.

He was a man with a joyous demeanor, a jovial countenance. But his smile was not the forced, phony smile of a politician, which, due to it's superficiality, if not outright false nature, does not induce great (if any) joy in others. Rather it was an authentic expression of inner feeling, joy and love, something truthful, which makes an significant impression on others, and is hence contagious.

I noticed some recordings of hesped (eulogy), or divrei zikaron (remembrance) (however you want to describe them) on Rav Steinman z"l online recently from the well known Chasidic poseik Rav Asher Weiss, and I decided to have a listen to them. Rav Weiss spent much time with Rav Steinman on private aircraft when he visited the USA years ago. Unsurprisingly, Rav Weiss spoke highly of the level of Torah knowledge of Rav Steinman. Somewhat surprisingly, however, he also stated and stressed, over and over, how impressed he was by the simcha, the joy, of Rav Steinman, his smile, pleasantness, and happiness. Imagine that! The staunch Chasid is astounded by, and praising and learning simcha from the Litvishe (a Brisker to boot, at least in terms of his geographic origin) gadol. Putting the lie to the stereotype that simcha is a Chasidic thing.

To give you a better picture of what I mean, here is some of what Rav Asher Weiss said in his divrei hesped/zikaron on a man he called "this amazing tzaddik" (part one) (part two) -

Most of the time we spoke in learning (divrei Torah). I sat across from him (on the plane), and I was nispoel (deeply impressed and influenced) by his amazing memory (recall of sugyos of Torah), but I was far more moved with his simchas haTorah (joy of Torah), and generally his simchas hachaim (joy of life).

He had an amazing sense of humor.

He always smiled. He had the smile of angel.

(After relating how simply he ate, a potato with a glass of hot water for supper) I've known other gedolim who were mesagfim (limited earthly pleasures), but usually it comes with kotzer ruach, anxiety......He was the most pleasant person in the world, always with heoras panim (a countenance of light), always seemed to be happy.

He always had such an unbelievable haoras panim, and such a simcha.

There sits a man with the most beautiful smile in the world - I never saw a man so happy - I never saw a millionaire so happy.....

He saw himself as a simpleton...

Some videos illustrating these aspects of Rav Steinman z"l can be seen online.

To see what Rav Asher Weiss was talking about, take a look at actual footage from Rav Steinman's travels close to fifteen years ago referred to in the divrei hesped/zikaron, and his angelic smile then, here (3:50-4:20). A beautiful such scene with a younger להבחל"ח Rav Asher Weiss himself can be seen at this point (4:08 app.).

A unique video I spotted online (in the Hebrew, Yiddish, and English languages) with extensive 'private footage' of Rav Aharon Leib (I found especially interesting a segment of sparring on the parameters of 'צדיק גוזר והקב"ה מקיים'  at around 23:45-28:25) is also interesting viewing.

May we follow the way of pashtus, emes, and limud haTorah lishma modeled by Rav Steinman z"l and be zoche to ונרננה ונשמחה בכל ימינו.

A freilichen chodesh!