Purim for today
Hello. I am Gail Ginsburg and the topic of this video is Purim for today. If you are not familiar with the background story of the great Jewish holiday of Purim I encourage to take out your Bible and read the Book of Ester, it is a great literature. It is a steering story and well-worth your time. You may also wish to check out Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg’s videos on this subject which are available at Joe You and You Tube on line.
Now, when we talk about the story of Ester, we need to consider the fact that most scholars, all serious scholars today say that the Book of Ester is a work of historical fiction rather than actual history. For my perspective, this takes away not one bit from its interest, its beauty and in deed its value for us today. Great literature can contain as much or more truth than the drive recitation of historical facts.
Now, in the Book of Ester, we see Ester Arkadasa through a quiet and interesting set of circumstances becomes queen, wife to King Ahashverosh of Persia and it is put in the position by God, this is implied in the Book of Ester. It is the only biblical book that is not mentioned the name of God specifically but it is implied that Ester was give this position specifically so she would be able to save the Jewish people from the threat oppose by the evil Hyman who decided to exterminate the Jewish people. Now, Ester was given the opportunity. This does not mean that she was forced to take up that opportunity.
What characteristics can we look at in Ester that can be a valuable lesson to us today?
First of all, Ester showed great courage. She was given the opportunity to do the right thing, but she could have very easily rationalized the choice to do nothing. To do what she needed to do was putting her life at risk. She needed to appear on bitten before King Ahashverosh, which was generally rewarded with the penalty of death. However, because of her great beauty and charm Ahashverosh did not kill her. So, she displayed great courage as I always tell my children, courage is not the absent of fear. Courage is doing the right thing even though you are scared to die. So she displays great courage.
In addition, she displays ingenuity and creativity. She comes up with a plan. The plan of inviting Ahashverosh and evil Hyman to dinner parties that are house to in a sense of worker magic with Ahashverosh, win him over and make the plan of saving the Jewish people actually happened. So she displays creativity and a willingness to take her time by their time and worked through a plan to get the right thing accomplished.
Now, what are the challenges facing the Jewish people today?
We can certainly look at the challenges facing the state of Israel from within and without and we need to do everything we can to support Israel by your visits, by your donations such as costs, by talking to our neighbors. We also need to look at the political threats from nations like Iran, who opposed at least theoretical and if not actually danger to the state Israel but closer to home, I want to talk about two threats to Judaism that I think are really significant today.
The first is the situation involving half of marriages involving Jewish people to non Jewish partners. This is I discussed in an earlier video on the topic of inter-religious relationships is necessary consequence of living in an open and divorce society. So, we can demote it or we can celebrate it. It is real.
One of the problems I see in Jewish families is the tendency to push aside, to push away to be resistant to the non-Jewish spouse or fiancé.
My friends, you never gain anything by pushing someone away. You will gain a lot more by trying that person close, getting to know them, have the courage, have the faith to get to know that person as an individual. Show them the beauty of Judaism. Show what it means to have a heart filled with love and goodness and righteousness. You will a lot further that way then by pushing someone aside out of fear and really honestly ignore us.
The second challenge I see facing the Jewish people today is lack of spirituality. Judaism has become very rational in many circles were secular and we have lost that intimate deep beautiful connection with God which really is the soul and the heart of Judaism.
So, I encourage you to study of mystical traditions of Capla, pray, meditate, find the shoal that you love, go regularly, go celebrate Purim and lead a full happy Jewish life. Operate with courage, operate with creativity, and operate with integrity in the memory of our great, great Queen Ester. Happy Purim!
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