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Yesterday, I came across a news story about Jerusalem deciding to go ahead with their planned Purim "Adloyada" Parade after not having one for 42 years^[1.1], despite protests against it because it is insensitive to the Israeli hostages and their friends and families still being held by Hamas^{[1.2, 1.3]}. About 7000 people signed a petition to postpone the parade^[1.2], after all there was not one for decades. Why can't you wait?

This is also a time of tragedy that came from the people's sin, not just for Israelis but also Palestinians are gravely suffering, so having a large raucous, showy parade seems inappropriate, even for Purim by Jewish standards. Other Israeli municipalities planned to tone down their Purim festivities, but Jerusalem is going forward and saying they want to do it for the children to have joy during the holiday. Whether that is really a major concern, or as critics say, it is actually concern for the financial loss from parade preparations^[1.2], I would not feel right putting on costumes and parading and jumping about the city as if everything was wonderful, especially when just a ways away, your kinfolk are held prisoner and tortured.

So as I kept reading the article in dismay, I noted that the word used in the parade, adloyada ( עדלאידע ), means "until one no longer knows," which refers to Halacha Jewish teaching (non-scriptural) using the word to mean drink alcohol during Purim until you can no longer tell the difference between "blessed be Mordecai" (a Jewish hero of Purim) and "cursed be Haman" (the main villain of Purim)^[1.4]. It is no wonder Judaism has turned Purim into a Carnival/Mardi Gras riot of overboard fun. Truly it is for reason the Lord says, "They are not a people of discernment, therefore their Maker will not have compassion on them..." (Isaiah/Yeshayahu 27:9-11), which I noted about the Hamas attack.

But when I noted this notion of adloyada, I also recalled my words yesterday about all of God's people of every sect rejecting correction and the truth, and so just as Jews adloyada with joy in God and blessing, the church too, living in the same drunken adloyada, just as the Jewish brethren - they all reject God's rebukes and guidance towards correction, salvation, and the truth, because they are overly focused on the good things of God and reject anything negative; the people can no longer tell the difference between who is for their good and who is against. So I remind you on the fast of Purim to join me in the prayers I spoke of yesterday.