Elon Gold - Keep Your Gragers Close!

Elon Gold - Keep Your Gragers Close!

Though variations of the grogger have been commonplace among Ashkenazic Jews dating back to the Middle Ages, the integration of groggers into the megillah readings is a more recent addition by the Sephardic Jews.

Groggers, believed to originate from wooden paddles or stones among children in 13th or 14th century France and Germany, are used during the megillah reading each time Haman’s name is spoken, as a way of fullfilling the Biblical commandment in Exodus 17:4 to, "blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the Heavens" on the premise that Haman may be a decendent of the Amalakites.

“Haman and Amalek can have no power over us when we Jews as a collective body are true to our G-d,” Avi Lazerson wrote in the Jewish Magazine. “As long as we are strong in our faith and live according to G-d's commandments, He will protect us from wicked people such as Amalek and Haman. But once we slack off our observance and begin to alter our belief, we lose our divine protection.”

“That is the message of Amalek: the grogger is like an alarm clock that comes to remind us to remember to eliminate the memory of Amalek from this world; that we all should return to G-d with a whole and pure heart,” Lazerson continued. “In this manner, we will reach the joy of G-d's divine protection and only then shall we live secure.”

Written by Erin Parfet

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Videos

The Maccabeats - Dayenu - Passover

Dayenu translates to “it would have been enough,” or “it would have been sufficient,” and has…
The Maccabeats - Dayenu - Passover

Street Shofar Israel

Street Shofar treks across Israel -- from Jerusalem's Old City to military bases, from Bedouin…
Street Shofar Israel

Israel @ 70

Celebrating 70 amazing years of Israel's growth and achievements.
Israel @ 70

Nefesh B'Nefesh Yom HaAtzmaut

Inspired by the words of the Declaration of Independence, this brief five minute video is a…
Nefesh B'Nefesh Yom HaAtzmaut

Y-Studs: Don't Let Me Down

Have you ever been curious about Chanukah , or Hanukkah as most of us are used to seeing it…
Y-Studs: Don't Let Me Down

Shalom Sesame Missing Menorah

Shalom Sesame was developed by the same group that created Sesame Street in collaboration with…
Shalom Sesame Missing Menorah

The Latke Song

A different perspective of what Chanukah is about.
The Latke Song

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation