Shavuah Tov!!! Happy Purim !
Purim is about being different. Haman’s whole justification to annihilate the Jews as he explained to King Ahashverosh was, “”a singular people”, different and unique despite their dispersion. Ahashverosh agreed with Haman that ” it is not worthy that the King let them be…it must be decreed that they be destroyed.” (Esther 3:8-9)
Today in 2017 we are experiencing this same hatred of 2300 years ago. What was the response then? What should be our response now?
The Jewish response to Haman’s decree was to intensify their singularity. Instead of continuing to assimilate and forgetting their traditions, they rallied under the leadership of Mordechai the Jew by increasing in their commitment to Torah and Mitzvahs.
The Book of Esther relates the downfall of Haman and Israel’s victory and it sums it up in one sentence: “To the Jews was light, happiness, joy, and prestige.” The Talmud interprets this words as a reference to the four primary distinguishing features of the Jewish People: The Torah, The Festivals, Brit Mila (circumcision), and Tefilin. Although there are 613 mitzvot (divine commandments) and many principles, laws, and traditions that are part of the Jewish way of life, these four are singled out as the matrices of Jewish singularity.
So just as 2300 years ago this was the response to antisemitism, this should be our response today and any day. The more a Jew is oppressed the more he/she should shine their very unique light and with H”S help we should continue to see miracles as in the days of Queen Esther and Mordechai the Jew.
Excerpts taken from “Inside Time” by Yanki Tauber from the teachings of The Lubavitcher Rebbe
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