We're diving into a curious custom observed in the month of Siwan (roughly May-June), a time closely associated with Shavuot, the celebration of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. According to some historical accounts, particularly those preserved by non-Jewish observers (as recorded in Legends of the Jews), Jewish communities in certain places observed a two-day festival they called Azarta – meaning "closing festival." Now, what exactly did this Azarta entail?
Apparently, these communities would gather in their synagogues, reciting the Shema (the central Jewish prayer proclaiming God's oneness), offering prayers, reading from the Torah, and translating passages from the books of the Prophets. Sounds pretty standard, right? But here's where it gets a little spicy. The account goes on to say they would also "curse our king, and execrate our government." Oof. Talk about ending on a strong note!
And the grand finale? They would ascend to the roofs of their synagogues and toss apples down to the people below, who would scramble to gather them up. The accompanying words? "As these apples are gathered up, so may we be gathered together from our dispersion among the heathen." Think of it: a visual, tangible representation of the hope for eventual redemption and return to the land of Israel.
Ginzberg, drawing on various sources, attributes this observance to the belief that the Torah was revealed to their ancestors on these days on Mount Sinai. It's a fascinating way to connect the giving of the Torah with the longing for reunification.
Now, it’s important to note that this description comes from external sources, and its accuracy and representativeness have been debated. Was this a widespread practice, or a localized custom? Was the cursing of the king a literal act of defiance, or a symbolic expression of frustration? We don't know for sure. What we do know is that history is often written by the victors, and sometimes, the stories that survive are filtered through a particular lens.
This little anecdote from Legends of the Jews offers a glimpse into the diverse and sometimes surprising ways that our ancestors expressed their faith, their hopes, and yes, even their frustrations. It reminds us that even in the midst of religious ritual, there was room for human emotion, for political commentary, and for a good old-fashioned apple toss.
So, the next time you're looking for a way to mark an ending, maybe consider a more conventional approach. But who knows, maybe a symbolic apple toss wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. Just maybe skip the part about cursing the government, okay?