The Lesson of Purim

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Lessons of Purim
Rabino Shabsi Alpern

One of the provisions related to the feast of Purim is "mishloach manot" - "sending of portions", send two types of kosher food for a friend. One explanation for this mitzvah - commandment is that in doing so, we can correct the transgressions committed by some of our brethren at the time of Purim.

The aim of this divine spark is to "illuminate" with the light of God's highest ideals.

Mishloach manot reminds and warns us not be led by the brilliance of civilizations and cultures alien to ours, and urges us to resist the assimilation, however flattering it may seem.

The assimilation and imitation not only accelerate our spiritual decline, prevent us from achieving the desired respect and acceptance by society.

And so we read the story of Purim: When the king of Persia saw that Mordechai remained faithful to Judaism, even in the royal court, he had deep respect and admiration for him, thinking: "This is a man of principle, in him I can trust"

The History shows that those who try to gain acceptance in society, denying their Jewish identity, end up being rejected in the end, with the following theory: "A man unfaithful to his own people and tradition, always swimming against the tide. Moreover, not there is someone who can have confidence, because he sold his legacy, for money or honors. How can we have confidence in him and depend on him if someone offers him more coins, if he betrayed their loyalty, and if betrayed their brothers in faith?

Unswerving loyalty to Gd and His Torah is the key to survival of our people, and is the only clue to get everyone's respect.

Purim is the Jewish Feast of Joy

What is Purim?

by Rabbi Shraga Simons

Purim is the Jewish holiday most dramatic and full of joy.

When, another date we can dress in funny costumes and eat candy triangles filled with prunes and poppy seeds?

We celebrate on 14 Adar. This year (2010), Saturday evening, February 27 and Sunday 28 February, during the day.

Meaning
It originates from the word "Pur" - draw. Regarding the date on which Haman, the advisor King's Achashverrosh, has drawn out and marked for the annihilation of the Jewish people. In fact, became the lucky date of the Jewish people, when it was saved and came up victorious. That year marked forever the day that is celebrated with great joy the feast of Purim. On this date we should be to read the book of Esther.

In Persia 2,300 years ago, the "Megillah" - scroll, as it is commonly called recounts how a series of seemingly unrelated events that occurred to save the Jewish people from annihilation.

When King Achashverosh made a long feast of six months and the queen refuses to obey his orders, she was replaced by a new queen, Esther, the Jewess.

Esther's uncle Mordechai, the leader of the Jews, uncovers a plot to kill King, which puts him in a favorable position with the king. All this happens while Haman, the most important adviser to the king, obtains a decree to kill all Jews. In the end, through a complex mix of events, Esther gets the decree reversed, Haman is hanged and this, and Mordechai becomes prime minister. The name Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther) means to reveal what is hidden.

And unlike other books of the Bible, on "Megillat Esther" the name of God is not mentioned even once. The hidden hand of God is revealed through the maze of events.

There are no coincidences. The "Megillat Esther" teaches us that life challenges us so we can give what is best in us, and what seems like obstacles are really opportunities for us to develop better. And all this comes from the invisible hand of God, that guides our destiny, and every step we take.