PURIM - Festival of Esther
Adar 13-15, 5784 – March 23-25, 2024
Ancient 'Pur' (Lot/Dice)
PURIM – pronounce “pu” to rhyme with “to,” and “rim” to rhyme with“team.”
The emphasis is on the second syllable.
PURIM - Hebrew for “lots” (dice). PUR is the singular word for “lot.”
This year from March 23 (Fast of Esther), sundown, through March 25 (Shushan Purim), sundown, Jewish people around the world will celebrate Purim. Purim is a Jewish holiday based on the deliverance of the Jews according to the book of Esther. “Purim” or “lots” (dice) are what wicked Haman threw in order to determine on which day to carry out his plan of annihilating the Jewish people. The lots landed on 12 and 13, and Haman understood this to mean the 13th day of the 12th Jewish month of Adar. Thus, Purim is celebrated on Adar 13 (sundown), 14, and 15 (Shushan Purim) – in 2024 this is from sundown on March 23 (Fast of Esther) until sundown on March 25. The actual days of Purim celebrated in Israel are from sundown 23-24 March, however outside of Israel Purim includes 25 March and is called Shushan Purim.
The emphasis is on the second syllable.
PURIM - Hebrew for “lots” (dice). PUR is the singular word for “lot.”
This year from March 23 (Fast of Esther), sundown, through March 25 (Shushan Purim), sundown, Jewish people around the world will celebrate Purim. Purim is a Jewish holiday based on the deliverance of the Jews according to the book of Esther. “Purim” or “lots” (dice) are what wicked Haman threw in order to determine on which day to carry out his plan of annihilating the Jewish people. The lots landed on 12 and 13, and Haman understood this to mean the 13th day of the 12th Jewish month of Adar. Thus, Purim is celebrated on Adar 13 (sundown), 14, and 15 (Shushan Purim) – in 2024 this is from sundown on March 23 (Fast of Esther) until sundown on March 25. The actual days of Purim celebrated in Israel are from sundown 23-24 March, however outside of Israel Purim includes 25 March and is called Shushan Purim.
Purim is the most joyous and carefree of the Jewish holidays commemorating deliverance from annihilation. It is a minor holiday only in the sense that work is permitted on it, but many Jewish people choose not to work on this important day. Even though the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, one can truly see how God intervened in wicked Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people and saved His people.
(Isaiah 54:16-17; Psalm 121; Genesis 12:3).
The Book of Esther begins with King Ahasuerus (pronounced Achashverosh also known as Xerxes, son of King Darius) during the third year of his reign over the Persian Empire (which covered 127 Provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia), giving a banquet for all his nobles and officials. This banquet was held in his winter palace in an enclosed garden and it lasted a full 180 days with an abundance of food and wine. At the same time, his Queen, the beautiful Vashti, also gave a banquet for the women of the royal palace.
(Isaiah 54:16-17; Psalm 121; Genesis 12:3).
The Book of Esther begins with King Ahasuerus (pronounced Achashverosh also known as Xerxes, son of King Darius) during the third year of his reign over the Persian Empire (which covered 127 Provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia), giving a banquet for all his nobles and officials. This banquet was held in his winter palace in an enclosed garden and it lasted a full 180 days with an abundance of food and wine. At the same time, his Queen, the beautiful Vashti, also gave a banquet for the women of the royal palace.
Queen Vashti
On the seventh day of the banquet in high spirits and full of wine, the King commanded Vashti to be brought before him wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty. (One of the Hebrew commentaries about this event, records his orders were that she was to appear wearing only her royal crown and no other covering and that this was possibly why she refused to appear, especially as his command was to display her beauty to all his nobles and officials who would have been as high spirited and drunk as the King was). The result was that she was forever banished from the King’s presence, (some commentaries record she was executed, others record she was banished to an area of the court away from everyone else for the rest of her life). Tradition tells us that Queen Vashti was the daughter of King Belshazzar and granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Esther (Hadassah)
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, had been living as an exile in Susa (Shushan) at the time. He had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had adopted and raised as his own daughter after her parents had died. Hadassah, or Esther, meaning "star" in Persian, was lovely in form and features, and she found favour in the eyes of the King and was chosen from amongst hundreds of maidens to become Queen in place of Vashti.
Meanwhile, Mordecai had uncovered a plot to have the King assassinated and told his cousin Queen Esther about it. She in turn, reported the news to the King, and gave the credit to Mordecai.
Mordecai refusing to bow to Haman
Later on Haman, an evil man, was given the highest seat of honour by the King, but Mordecai refused to kneel down and pay him homage. This greatly angered Haman, and knowing that Mordecai was a Jew, a member of the race he hated, Haman began to plot a way to destroy all of the Jews throughout Persia. Haman convinced King Ahaseurus to issue a decree for their annihilation.
Up until this time, Queen Esther had kept her Jewish heritage a secret from the King. Now Mordecai encouraged her to go into the King's presence and beg for mercy on behalf of the Jews. Believing that God had prepared her for this very moment in history—"for such a time as this"—as a vessel of deliverance for her people, Esther urged all of the Jews in the city to fast and pray for her for three days. This was a fast that included no food or drink and she and her maids also fasted for the three days.
Up until this time, Queen Esther had kept her Jewish heritage a secret from the King. Now Mordecai encouraged her to go into the King's presence and beg for mercy on behalf of the Jews. Believing that God had prepared her for this very moment in history—"for such a time as this"—as a vessel of deliverance for her people, Esther urged all of the Jews in the city to fast and pray for her for three days. This was a fast that included no food or drink and she and her maids also fasted for the three days.
Esther and the King
Esther was about to risk her own life to request an audience with the King. When she appeared before King Ahaseurus, he was pleased to listen to Esther and grant whatever request she might have. When Esther revealed her identity as a Jew and then pleaded for her own life and the lives of her people, the King became enraged with Haman and had him and his sons hanged on the gallows they had prepared for Mordecai and all their property given to Queen Esther.
King Ahaseurus could not reverse his previous order to have the Jewish people destroyed, so he issued a new decree giving the Jews the right to assemble and protect themselves. Mordecai then received a place of honour in the King's palace as Prime Minister and he encouraged all Jews to participate in an annual celebration of feasting and joy, in remembrance of this great salvation and turn of events. By Queen Esther's official decree, these days were established as a lasting custom called Purim, or the Feast of Lots (Esther 9).
King Ahaseurus could not reverse his previous order to have the Jewish people destroyed, so he issued a new decree giving the Jews the right to assemble and protect themselves. Mordecai then received a place of honour in the King's palace as Prime Minister and he encouraged all Jews to participate in an annual celebration of feasting and joy, in remembrance of this great salvation and turn of events. By Queen Esther's official decree, these days were established as a lasting custom called Purim, or the Feast of Lots (Esther 9).
Ruins of the Palace at Susa (Shushan)
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” It marks the deliverance of the Jews of the Persian Empire from extinction 2,300 years ago. In Iran, the centre of the ancient Persian Empire, the date will be marked with mourning and anger. For years already, Iran has been teaching schoolchildren that Purim marks the massacre of 100,000 Persians by the Jews under the command of Queen Esther. It is presented today as an ancient Iranian holocaust perpetrated by the Jews.
The Iranian version conveniently omits the part where Haman, the royal advisor, convinces the Persian king to sign a decree permitting the wholesale slaughter of all the Jews in the empire! When Esther reveals her Jewish background to the king and reveals that Haman was tricking him, the king issues a second decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves. By God’s grace, the Jews are largely spared, while 75,000 of their enemies are slaughtered.
Psalm 22, is read on Purim, Jewish scholars have said that this was the prayer Esther offered before she went into the king to plead for her people. It is interesting to note this Psalm is very ‘Messianic’.
The Iranian version conveniently omits the part where Haman, the royal advisor, convinces the Persian king to sign a decree permitting the wholesale slaughter of all the Jews in the empire! When Esther reveals her Jewish background to the king and reveals that Haman was tricking him, the king issues a second decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves. By God’s grace, the Jews are largely spared, while 75,000 of their enemies are slaughtered.
Psalm 22, is read on Purim, Jewish scholars have said that this was the prayer Esther offered before she went into the king to plead for her people. It is interesting to note this Psalm is very ‘Messianic’.
Esther approaching the King
Esther became queen because of her beauty, inside and out. When she was confronted with a decision to intercede on behalf of her people, she had to make a decision. She was afraid and rightfully so, however her response to Mordecai was:
“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” (Esther 5:11)
“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” (Esther 5:11)
Mordecai at the King's Gate
Mordecai sent word to her regarding this matter. His words reflected a deep faith in his God. “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 5: 13-14)
On Adar 13 observant Jewish people fast in memory of Queen Esther’s fast before she went in to King Ahasuerus to plead for her people.
On Adar 13 observant Jewish people fast in memory of Queen Esther’s fast before she went in to King Ahasuerus to plead for her people.
Great Gate in Susa
Remains of the 'King's Gate where Mordechai sat.
Megillah (Scroll of Esther)
That evening in the synagogue, as well as the next morning, the entire Megillah, or Scroll, of Esther is read. Every word must be read, and from a scroll, not a book.
Every time the reader comes to the names of Esther and Mordecai, everyone in the synagogue shouts, “Baruch Esther, Baruch Mordecai!” – “Blessed be Esther, Blessed be Mordecai!”
(Baruch is pronounced Barook - oo as in choose).
When the reader comes to the name of Haman though, his name is blotted out by rattling a grogger (Yiddish), a special, whirling Purim noisemaker. Loud “boos”and the stamping of feet are also heard. Cap pistols, alarm clocks, small firecrackers, and other ways a child can blot out Haman’s name are employed. Purim is the only time of the year when a child can make all the noise he or she wishes in the synagogue. The children (and some adults!) also dress up in costumes that portray the main characters in the book of Esther
Every time the reader comes to the names of Esther and Mordecai, everyone in the synagogue shouts, “Baruch Esther, Baruch Mordecai!” – “Blessed be Esther, Blessed be Mordecai!”
(Baruch is pronounced Barook - oo as in choose).
When the reader comes to the name of Haman though, his name is blotted out by rattling a grogger (Yiddish), a special, whirling Purim noisemaker. Loud “boos”and the stamping of feet are also heard. Cap pistols, alarm clocks, small firecrackers, and other ways a child can blot out Haman’s name are employed. Purim is the only time of the year when a child can make all the noise he or she wishes in the synagogue. The children (and some adults!) also dress up in costumes that portray the main characters in the book of Esther
Hamantaschen - Ozneh Haman
Hamantaschen also known as
Ozneh Haman
A famous pastry that is eaten on Purim is hamantaschen, or “Haman’s pockets” in Yiddish. This is a delicious three-cornered pastry that is filled with poppy seeds, cherries, apples, prunes, peaches, and other fruits. Hamantaschen stands for Haman’s pockets (which contained the bribe money he offered to King Ahasuerus), his hat, or his ears (Ozneh Haman – literally “Ears of Haman”), which were cut off before he was hanged. Another custom at Purim is to send gifts of food to friends and family and to the poor.
Purim is traditionally celebrated by the Jewish People in the way that Mordecai instructed the Jews (Esther 9:19) to commemorate their deliverance by The Four Main Mitzvot (commandments) Of Purim:
Eating a festive Purim meal, a special holiday meal eaten on Purim afternoon; Merrymaking and wearing costumes celebrating how everything can turn upside-down and into something else, and nothing is exactly what it seems to be; Sending gifts of food to at least one friend or relative, because Purim is a time of love and friendship between Jews; Giving gifts to the poor because Purim is a time of sharing and caring and helping.
Purim is traditionally celebrated by the Jewish People in the way that Mordecai instructed the Jews (Esther 9:19) to commemorate their deliverance by The Four Main Mitzvot (commandments) Of Purim:
Eating a festive Purim meal, a special holiday meal eaten on Purim afternoon; Merrymaking and wearing costumes celebrating how everything can turn upside-down and into something else, and nothing is exactly what it seems to be; Sending gifts of food to at least one friend or relative, because Purim is a time of love and friendship between Jews; Giving gifts to the poor because Purim is a time of sharing and caring and helping.
Summary
Purim is a celebration of God's faithfulness, deliverance and protection. Although the Jews were sentenced to death by King Ahaseurus' original decree, through Queen Esther's courageous intervention and willingness to face death, the people's lives were spared. Similarly, all of us who have sinned have been issued a decree of death, but through the intervention of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ, the Messiah), the old decree has been satisfied and a new proclamation of eternal life has been established:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)
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In the Book of Esther we are introduced to a villainous character named Haman the Agagite. "Agagite" is a name which contains the clues of an ancient mystery.
When Israel came out of Egypt they were attacked by the Amalekites. It was then said that, "the Lord will war against Amalek from generation to generation." Amalek had a descendant named King Agag. The Lord told Saul to kill him, but Saul refused. As a result, centuries later there arose an evil man named Haman, who, if not for the hand of God, would have wiped out all the Jewish people living in the Persian Empire. Haman was a descendant of Amalek. |
Tomb of Mordecai and Esther in present day Iran.
We clearly see God at work in the lives of individuals and in the affairs of a nation as we read through the Book of Esther. Even when it looks as if the world is in the hands of evil men and all hope is lost, God is still in control. He sets them up and He can take them down.
Although we may not understand everything happening around us, we must trust in God's protection and retain our integrity by doing what we know is right. Esther, who risked her life appearing before the king, became a heroine. Mordecai, who was on 'death row' (so to speak), rose to become the Prime Minister of the nation.
No matter how hopeless our condition, or how much we would like to give up, we need never despair. God is in control of our world!
Although we may not understand everything happening around us, we must trust in God's protection and retain our integrity by doing what we know is right. Esther, who risked her life appearing before the king, became a heroine. Mordecai, who was on 'death row' (so to speak), rose to become the Prime Minister of the nation.
No matter how hopeless our condition, or how much we would like to give up, we need never despair. God is in control of our world!
“Purimfest, 1946″ – The Purim Link Between Nazi Germany And Nuclear Iran
An article from the Chief Rabbi, South Africa for Purim 2012:
Something unexpected happened at the execution of Julius Streicher, one of the high-ranking Nazis sentenced to death at the Nuremberg Trials. Moments before Streicher was hanged in the early hours of October 16th 1946, Newsweek reported: “He stared at the witnesses facing the gallows and shouted ‘Purimfest, 1946.’”
What did Streicher mean by this? Why would a condemned Nazi mention Purim in his last words? Streicher was obviously familiar with Megillat Esther, which tells of the attempted genocide Haman planned, and how, when his plans were thwarted and they were defeated, Haman and his ten sons were hanged. Streicher was acutely aware of the irony of history – that he was one of ten Nazis hanged after being sentenced at the Nuremberg Trials. (In fact, eleven had been sentenced to death but Goering committed suicide before his sentence was carried out.) And so in the end ten were hanged, just like Haman’s ten sons in the Book of Esther. Amazingly, Streicher saw the historic link between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide of Haman, who, like the Nazis, also intended to wipe out every Jew – man, woman and child.
But there is an even deeper irony, which Streicher was certainly not aware of. Megillat Esther lists the names of Haman’s ten sons and according to the Halachah, three of the letters in these names are written in smaller font than the rest of the text – a tav, a shin and a zayin – and one letter is written in larger font – a vav. What do these unusually sized letters signify?
For generations different explanations have been offered. In the 20th century, however, another amazing meaning was discovered. The large vav is numerically 6, corresponding to the sixth millennium; the small tav, shin and zayin are numerically 707; together, these numbers refers to the 707th year of the sixth millennium – in other words, the Jewish year 5707, which corresponds to 1946, the year in which these ten high-ranking Nazis were hanged. Thus, the unusually sized letters - vav,tav, shin and zayin – found in the names of Haman’s ten sons allude to the year of the execution of these ten Nazi war criminals. What is further fascinating is that they were sentenced on the 1st of October, in the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur of 1946, and hanged on the 16th of October, which that year came out on Hoshana Rabbah, which, according to the Zohar, is the day that judgment of the world is finalized.
Since the Torah is G-d’s wisdom for all times, there are often things which cannot be properly understood until generations later. The differences in the font size of the letters in the list of Haman’s ten sons was not completely understood in previous generations. There were other explanations for it, but only in October 1946 did the full meaning of it become clear as ten Nazis were hanged in the Jewish year 5707,tav shin zayin.
What does all this mean? The answer comes from one of the great heroines of Jewish history, Queen Esther. At risk to her life, with bravery, conviction and loyalty, she intervened to save her people. Through her bold and dramatic life, Queen Esther showed us that G-d’s presence permeates our history. She understood that her fate and destiny – and that of her people – were in G-d’s hands. Esther taught us that sometimes G-d interacts with the world through open miracles as we experienced with the ten plagues and the splitting of the sea during the Exodus from Egypt. But mostly He does so in a hidden way, as happened during the time of Purim, when the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people was just as great as the open miracles and yet occurred in a way that was hidden from view and seemingly “natural.” The Gemara (Chulin 139b) says that the name “Esther” comes from the Hebrew root “to hide” and refers to the verse where G-d says, “on that day I will hide My face from you” (Devarim 31:18). As we know, in the entire Book of Esther, G-d’s name is not mentioned once; yet His presence is everywhere. Through our celebrations on Purim, we attribute all of the miracles of that time to G-d’s direct intervention in history, albeit hidden behind the machinations of politics and world affairs.
Queen Esther’s message is that we must not relate to these events in natural terms alone; we need to see G-d’s presence in everything, even though He is hidden. Esther’s message applies to us as individuals in our day-to-day lives, where, as Judaism teaches, G-d is involved and interested in every aspect of life; and it also applies to Jewish destiny and history at large, which powerfully demonstrate G-d’s involvement in the affairs of people and the direction of civilizations. The supernatural miracles of the establishment of the State of Israel and the rebirth of Torah learning throughout the world following the devastation of the Holocaust are but two examples of many which show G-d’s power and presence in everything.
And even in our current dangers, we can feel G-d’s presence and involvement. Julius Streicher, as he was being executed, saw with clarity the connection between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide planned by Haman. And now the very country in which Haman lived and in which the events of the Book of Esther took place – Persia – is the very same country that today is called Iran, where the new Hamans, the new Nazis, are proclaiming their intentions of genocide against the Jewish people. This ironic twist of history is so eerie and uncanny that it clearly shows us G-d’s presence in these events which affect the Jewish people and the world at large.
Our response to this latest declaration of intent to commit genocide coming from modern-day Persia, must be in the spirit of our great leader and prophetess, Queen Esther. Let us follow her example. Esther pursued not only a practical plan of action that was well executed politically and strategically, but she also pursued a spiritual plan instructing Mordechai to gather the people to repent, pray and fast. She understood and felt G-d’s presence in all of the events, and so too should we.
At this time of grave danger, we must follow Esther’s example: prepare practically and strategically, but also spiritually – in the form of prayer and repentance as we heed G-d’s call to return to Him. May G-d once again bless His people with redemption and liberation so that we may give thanks to Him as we says in our Purim prayers, “for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds and the victories in battle which You performed for our ancestors in those days and in this time.”
Posted on 07 March 2012 in TEXT, YOUR WORLDTags: PURIM
http://www.chiefrabbi.co.za/tagpurim
Something unexpected happened at the execution of Julius Streicher, one of the high-ranking Nazis sentenced to death at the Nuremberg Trials. Moments before Streicher was hanged in the early hours of October 16th 1946, Newsweek reported: “He stared at the witnesses facing the gallows and shouted ‘Purimfest, 1946.’”
What did Streicher mean by this? Why would a condemned Nazi mention Purim in his last words? Streicher was obviously familiar with Megillat Esther, which tells of the attempted genocide Haman planned, and how, when his plans were thwarted and they were defeated, Haman and his ten sons were hanged. Streicher was acutely aware of the irony of history – that he was one of ten Nazis hanged after being sentenced at the Nuremberg Trials. (In fact, eleven had been sentenced to death but Goering committed suicide before his sentence was carried out.) And so in the end ten were hanged, just like Haman’s ten sons in the Book of Esther. Amazingly, Streicher saw the historic link between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide of Haman, who, like the Nazis, also intended to wipe out every Jew – man, woman and child.
But there is an even deeper irony, which Streicher was certainly not aware of. Megillat Esther lists the names of Haman’s ten sons and according to the Halachah, three of the letters in these names are written in smaller font than the rest of the text – a tav, a shin and a zayin – and one letter is written in larger font – a vav. What do these unusually sized letters signify?
For generations different explanations have been offered. In the 20th century, however, another amazing meaning was discovered. The large vav is numerically 6, corresponding to the sixth millennium; the small tav, shin and zayin are numerically 707; together, these numbers refers to the 707th year of the sixth millennium – in other words, the Jewish year 5707, which corresponds to 1946, the year in which these ten high-ranking Nazis were hanged. Thus, the unusually sized letters - vav,tav, shin and zayin – found in the names of Haman’s ten sons allude to the year of the execution of these ten Nazi war criminals. What is further fascinating is that they were sentenced on the 1st of October, in the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur of 1946, and hanged on the 16th of October, which that year came out on Hoshana Rabbah, which, according to the Zohar, is the day that judgment of the world is finalized.
Since the Torah is G-d’s wisdom for all times, there are often things which cannot be properly understood until generations later. The differences in the font size of the letters in the list of Haman’s ten sons was not completely understood in previous generations. There were other explanations for it, but only in October 1946 did the full meaning of it become clear as ten Nazis were hanged in the Jewish year 5707,tav shin zayin.
What does all this mean? The answer comes from one of the great heroines of Jewish history, Queen Esther. At risk to her life, with bravery, conviction and loyalty, she intervened to save her people. Through her bold and dramatic life, Queen Esther showed us that G-d’s presence permeates our history. She understood that her fate and destiny – and that of her people – were in G-d’s hands. Esther taught us that sometimes G-d interacts with the world through open miracles as we experienced with the ten plagues and the splitting of the sea during the Exodus from Egypt. But mostly He does so in a hidden way, as happened during the time of Purim, when the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people was just as great as the open miracles and yet occurred in a way that was hidden from view and seemingly “natural.” The Gemara (Chulin 139b) says that the name “Esther” comes from the Hebrew root “to hide” and refers to the verse where G-d says, “on that day I will hide My face from you” (Devarim 31:18). As we know, in the entire Book of Esther, G-d’s name is not mentioned once; yet His presence is everywhere. Through our celebrations on Purim, we attribute all of the miracles of that time to G-d’s direct intervention in history, albeit hidden behind the machinations of politics and world affairs.
Queen Esther’s message is that we must not relate to these events in natural terms alone; we need to see G-d’s presence in everything, even though He is hidden. Esther’s message applies to us as individuals in our day-to-day lives, where, as Judaism teaches, G-d is involved and interested in every aspect of life; and it also applies to Jewish destiny and history at large, which powerfully demonstrate G-d’s involvement in the affairs of people and the direction of civilizations. The supernatural miracles of the establishment of the State of Israel and the rebirth of Torah learning throughout the world following the devastation of the Holocaust are but two examples of many which show G-d’s power and presence in everything.
And even in our current dangers, we can feel G-d’s presence and involvement. Julius Streicher, as he was being executed, saw with clarity the connection between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide planned by Haman. And now the very country in which Haman lived and in which the events of the Book of Esther took place – Persia – is the very same country that today is called Iran, where the new Hamans, the new Nazis, are proclaiming their intentions of genocide against the Jewish people. This ironic twist of history is so eerie and uncanny that it clearly shows us G-d’s presence in these events which affect the Jewish people and the world at large.
Our response to this latest declaration of intent to commit genocide coming from modern-day Persia, must be in the spirit of our great leader and prophetess, Queen Esther. Let us follow her example. Esther pursued not only a practical plan of action that was well executed politically and strategically, but she also pursued a spiritual plan instructing Mordechai to gather the people to repent, pray and fast. She understood and felt G-d’s presence in all of the events, and so too should we.
At this time of grave danger, we must follow Esther’s example: prepare practically and strategically, but also spiritually – in the form of prayer and repentance as we heed G-d’s call to return to Him. May G-d once again bless His people with redemption and liberation so that we may give thanks to Him as we says in our Purim prayers, “for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds and the victories in battle which You performed for our ancestors in those days and in this time.”
Posted on 07 March 2012 in TEXT, YOUR WORLDTags: PURIM
http://www.chiefrabbi.co.za/tagpurim