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

JEWSIC PASSOVER MUSIC VIDEO

Accounted in the Biblical Book of Exodus, the miracle of Pesach (translated from the Hebrew…
JEWSIC PASSOVER MUSIC VIDEO

Uncle Moishy Chanukah

Suki and Ding present an all new Uncle Moishy for Chanukah.
Uncle Moishy Chanukah

Because It's Rosh Hashanah!

David Sirull, a rabbi at the Adas Yeshurun Synagogue in Augusta, Georgia made a music video…
Because It's Rosh Hashanah!
Teshuva Tefila

Teshuva Tefila

Teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah -- translated respectively as repentance, prayer and charity…
Teshuva Tefila
Tisha B'Av at the Western Wall

Tisha B'av at the Kotel

It is not unusual for the Jewish people by the tens of thousands to flock to the Western Wall…
Tisha B'av at the Kotel

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


donation