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

20 Things To Do With Matzah

Passover’s over, and wouldn’t it be neat if you could use all the matzah that you didn’t eat?
20 Things To Do With Matzah

High Holy Days

High Holy Days.Lecture by Messianic Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky.
High Holy Days

The Maccabeats - Latke Recipe

This parody commomerates the Chanukah festivities and the traditional latkes which are served…
The Maccabeats - Latke Recipe
Teshuva Tefila

Teshuva Tefila

Teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah -- translated respectively as repentance, prayer and charity…
Teshuva Tefila

Raise your mask

Even though masks, costumes, flashy colors, and carnival themes are nowhere reflected in a…
Raise your mask

Kippalive - Al HaNisim

The Israeli a capella musical group Kipplative created this music video to commemerate the…
Kippalive - Al HaNisim

Matzo Man

“They baked the dough that they took out of Egypt into unleavened cakes [matzah], for it was…
Matzo Man

Nov 29, 1947: The Story of a Vote

The Mandate for Palestine was initially approved by the League of Nations in 1922, enforced by…
Nov 29, 1947: The Story of a Vote

Hilarious Hanukkah Medley

This comical Chanukah medley was originally written by singer and actress Luisa Tedoff Cohen.
Hilarious Hanukkah Medley

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


donation