Posted on March 7, 2025 by Rabbi David Katz
After the Academy Awards this past week and so many awards going to “Anora,” a movie about a young sex worker and the acceptance speech by writer/director Sean Baker supporting sex workers across the world, I want to give a big shout out to our TBE board for voting to turn our temple education wing into a brothel every night after 9:00 p.m. (except on Shabbat,) to raise money for camp scholarships for the children of members.
Meeting in a late night session the vote was nearly unanimous (with one dissenting vote because “the temple had not gone far enough,”) the board decided to put our temple space to use in more effective ways. Why should the building be use just during school hours, one member asked? Why just for committee meetings, another voice was heard? Surely, we can do better. All all agreed. The space/time ratio in relation to upkeep could be improved so easily with a brothel! And, of course, our own congregants: men, women – each and every dues paying member over the age of 13, no matter what their gender or sexual disposition, would get a special discount. Why stop with spiritual aspirations and social action opportunities and dull lessons? A temple could be so much more!
And, friends, if you believe any of the above, you haven’t entered the Purim spirit…it’s Adar, when absurdity, humor, and the overturning of moral expectations is a Talmudic mandate! We are supposed to get so drunk we do not know the difference between Haman and Mordechai. All bets are off on Purim.
And if this Rabbi’s Message has insulted you, made you mad, or caused you to question your own sanity – well, “GOOD!” Get with it! It’s time for Purim!
Come on Thursday night at 7:00 when the chaos continues!
Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah!
It’s the month of Adar – be Happy!
L’shalom,
Rabbi David Katz
