The story normally told at this time is currently unavailable
During an annual feast and festival the underlying narrative is violently challenged by revolutionaries
Chapter 1
Remember how we defeated Haman!
Remember this glorious story – our story. For one day, if we are not vigilant, similar evil will rise, and again, we will be compelled to fight. We must remember so that our collective memory and collective vigilance protects and sustains us.
Haman gorged himself on power and cruelty, taking pleasure from our suffering. He raised his sons to do the same. In their schools, they learned that we were unworthy, that we were objects. In our schools, we also learned that we were unworthy and that we were to be grateful.
Remember how Haman’s sons facilitated the nightly banquets of horror.
Alden, the youngest son, oversaw the kitchens where the grisly feasts were prepared and where we worked until we collapsed.
Barnum, the middle son, oversaw the stables, where Haman, his sons and his guests molested and abused us, even our youngest.
Codath, his eldest, led the procession where the Golden Calf, mounted on its wheeled altar, was paraded down the main path and rolled into place in the banquet hall. Inside the Golden Calf, one of our heroes was cooked alive as entertainment for Haman and his sons and his guests. They called this their sacrifice.
Haman’s guests were those of his clan, close allies and others with wealth and power. They equalled Haman in their sadism and partook of all evils. They were content to be intoxicated and entertained and to use and abuse whomever they wished among our people. They were addicted to food, drink, sexual indulgence and our blood, and they were indifferent to our suffering.
This is the world Haman constructed, like a mighty wall around us, within which we were captive. Haman consumed our people. He worked us, raped us, murdered us and ate us.
Remember what it felt like when you first learned these truths – when the Book of Miriam was first read to you. At first, you were probably too young to understand. So we told you the story repeatedly, hoping you would come to feel the truth. What does it feel like now, to know that this was the life and the fate of so many of us?
What might become of us if we forget? We must remember and be vigilant and prepare. Because it is inevitable that those like Haman and his sons will come again. We must be ready. Today, you must be ready.
Chapter 2
Miriam saw what was happening and she told us every detail. But many of us would not believe her. Some said: These things only happen in stories but not in reality. Some said: This is propaganda and she is manipulating us. Some wrote elaborate stories of her supposed deceit.
Miriam helped us learn the truth. She led many of us, two at a time, on dangerous reconnaissance missions so that we would see for ourselves. Then we knew. We should have listened from the start. How many more of us died – and how prolonged our suffering – due to our scepticism and lack of vision.
Chapter 3
The last to be convinced was Aaron, who manufactured the Golden Calf. Aaron was respected by Haman as he was gifted in the arts of metal and machine. He was driven by passion for knowledge and technological progress. He made the beast more impressive over time, which delighted Haman and his guests.
Early versions of the Golden Calf were brilliant sculptures that served as massive centrepieces on an altar covered with trays of the best meat and wine. The guests would admire the Golden Calf and gluttonously receive its offerings. Later versions were ingeniously articulated, bringing the Golden Calf to life with movement, light, sound and theatrics.
Aaron was blind to how the Golden Calf was used. Miriam opened his eyes and helped him see. Aaron then agreed to help Miriam and our people.
Chapter 4
Miriam devised a glorious plan and led our revolt. She wrote stories for us that we regularly read and shared. To Haman and his people, these seemed like naïve and harmless children’s tales. We knew the true, embedded meaning and how each word contributed to our preparations. The simplest motions of daily life became forms of practice. Every day, we rehearsed within our minds and dreams.
On the glorious day, we acted. One clan stormed the kitchens, killing Alden and freeing those inside. One clan stormed the stables, killing Barnum and freeing those inside. We fell upon his evil guests and slew them all. Miriam leapt from her hiding place within the Gold Calf and slew Codath. And then we attended to Haman.
Chapter 5
This is what we remember today and what we retell each year to remind us to be watchful for the rise of those like Haman and his sons. We are dedicated as priests to keeping the memory alive – to keeping the horror alive. Because complacency will lead to our demise. Nothing we say or do can fully reach the intensity of our suffering, but we strive, with all our learning and our creativity.
We are gathered now for our annual festival where we share new ways of retelling and re-enacting that terrible and glorious story. Tonight is our culminating event where we witness and participate in this year’s winning ritual. With humility and thanks to our winning team, I have been asked to narrate the proceedings.
Just a moment. Where is my copy of the script? Ah, here. Let us begin!
Chapter 6
Here comes Haman’s guests as they enter the banquet hall at the start of the evening. Their elaborate garments? We made these, working to exhaustion in their sweatshops. See how they stumble and almost fall as they are already inebriated. See the vacant expressions as they speak gibberish and laugh stupidly. They are neither fully conscious nor fully human.
Now arrives Haman, taking his place at the front of the hall. On the table is the Book of Haman, from which he reads to his guests at the start of each evening.
He begins at verse 114.
[114] This feast is a sacred affair.
[115] You are performing your rightful and responsible roles as leaders and priests serving the community.
[116] You must take pleasure in the evening’s offerings – and show gratitude.
[117] There is much food and wine, as much as you desire.
[118] There are many women, girls, men and boys – do with them what you will and take joy in that.
[119] Your purpose and responsibility is to revel in your pleasure.
[120] This is how we combat the demons of this world. We laugh at them, defying and denying evil’s attempt to overpower
us.
[121] Our dedication to pleasure keeps the world in order.
[122] Therefore, you are to become senseless with intoxication.
[123] For evil takes over the rational mind, but cannot overwhelm the ecstatic mind.
I believe the curtain is to open now. Is there something wrong? Ah, there we go.
Magnificent! Here is our diorama: bodies dancing, contorted and entwined.
And that sound we hear? That is the painful groaning of our people. The canvas is our body, the paint is our blood.
Together now:
Haman’s story justified his treatment of our people. Everyone who listened to his story or were trained as priests with his story, became one of our oppressors. They turned our torturous suffering into their righteousness.
See this with understanding and be ready, for now enters the procession bringing the Golden Calf to the banquet.
Together:
Unbeknownst to Haman and his sons and his guests, Miriam is hidden within.
Earlier in the evening, Miriam climbed into Golden Calf with Aaron’s assistance. She hid silently as the altar was wheeled from the workshop to the kitchens, where the trays of food and wine were arranged on the altar. Miriam remained silent and still as the altar was then wheeled into position in the front of the hall.
Look there, high and to the left, and you might glimpse Aaron peering down from the scaffolding.
Together:
Aaron helped Miriam with her plan, modifying The Golden Calf so that she could hide inside and emerge with surprise at just the right moment.
Ah, hear that? That is Miriam’s battle cry from within the Golden Calf! That is the signal!
And now, see as we storm the kitchens, slaying the guards and falling onto Alden. You remove each of his limbs and throw them into the ovens. You guide the miserable workers to safety and prepare for the next phase of the attack.
And now, you storm the stables, slaying the guards and falling onto Barnum. You remove each of his limbs and throw them to the animals. You guide the wretched and abused to safety and prepare for the next phase of the attack.
Ah, and now! Hear this! Miriam’s triumphant voice fills the hall.
Loudly, everyone!
I am the Golden Calf!
I am your sacrifice!
I am witness!
I am become death!
[Book of Miriam, 32:26]
Miriam throws open the door that Aaron built into the side of the Golden Calf. See how she leaps from within, sword raised. Miriam slays Codath by the left wheel of the altar.
See Haman, surprised, stunned, reaching for his sword. But Miriam is quick and leaps upon him. With one swift stroke she cuts off Haman’s right hand – his sword hand.
We all storm the banquet hall. We slay the guards and fall onto Haman’s guests. See how we remove their limbs to feed the fires.
With the banquet hall subdued we now attend to Haman’s disposition. We bind his wounds to keep him from dying from the loss of blood. We bring him to the altar and secure him below the Golden Calf.
Several among us, selected by previous lottery, take turns removing Haman’s remaining fingers and toes and ears.
(We were advised that removing his genitals would result in rapid blood loss, loss of consciousness and premature death. Personal communication. David Levi. September 2021.)
We place Haman within the Golden Calf. We build the fire beneath the belly of the Golden Calf.
Stay calm, everyone.
The screams you hear…
Stay calm, everyone.
The screams you hear represent the horror inflicted on our people.
This is how we keep that horror alive.
We should not simply bear these screams - we must relish in them.
Chapter 7
What’s that? Who is that at the front door? And the back door? And at the windows? Who is coming?
Quickly, everyone, prepare for an attack!
This is no drill!
Haman and his sons have returned!
We have always known this would happen and now it is here!
Unlock the armoury!
Everyone to the doors and to the windows!
Chapter 8
I am told that I must address you one last time. I am told that if I do not read the following to you that each of you in turn will be placed within the Golden Calf. I am told that if I read this to you, and you listen and show signs of understanding, you will be spared. I have therefore agreed and I ask that you listen closely.
The people surrounding you now with weapons will not harm you if you do exactly as you are told. Do not be afraid. We bring you great news but challenging news.
You have been deceived.
The stories you have been telling for many generations – stories of Miriam, the rebellion and her defeat of Haman – these things never happened. These were stories told to warn you about those who wield power for their selfish indulgence, and those indifferent to suffering.
And what did you do with these stories? Long ago, you turned them into your history, into the story of your people - something that felt so truthful and important that it became appropriate – and even beautiful – to place one of your own into an oven as part of an annual feast and festival.
You have been deceived.
There was no Haman. There was no banquet of horrors. You learned this from a book. That book was written not to enlighten you, but to guide you.
You are not to blame! It is our nature to grasp for understanding and to cling to a story that makes sense of the world and makes sense of our lives. We are designed this way. People do terrible things to avoid meaninglessness. We tell and retell terrible stories. We destroy others and ultimately ourselves.
We cannot allow you to continue telling your story. We cannot allow you to pass it on to your children. That story ends here.
Going forward, today’s story will be retold, a truly wonderful story about how you were awakened to the truth. You are part of a great awakening. You will say that you were here. You will tell your children to imagine that they are here.
From today forward, we must remember and we must be vigilant. It is inevitable that people will rise with new stories, which they will believe in their hearts to be true. And these stories will make perfect sense. You will cry out with epiphany and ecstasy. And you will go forth gloriously and slay your neighbour in the name of this new story.
Therefore, to protect ourselves from these malevolent forces, our life’s adventure must be to find what is truthful amidst the raging sea of self-serving interpretations and falsehoods.
Even now, as we speak, people who lust for meaning are banging on our doors! Do you hear?!
We must guard those doors. If they gain entrance, they will destroy half of you outright and tell the other half that you have been deceived. They will tell you yet another story.
How will you remember this? How can we ensure that we will never forget? We must create a collective memory of the terrible consequences of that story.
And so, we will now proceed.
You will never forget what you are about to witness.
[The Book of Stories, 28: 17-49]
Chapter 9
Now, I believe my time is over.
I am told that Miriam, our heroic ancestor, never existed, however, I – oh, I am not permitted to say more.
Just one last—
Who will be next—
Inside the Golden Calf—
Miriam!
