Alongside many in our community, I recently had the opportunity to witness harrowing footage of the carnage committed on October 7th. I don’t need to share the vivid details of the film but suffice it to say that all the stories of the atrocities of that day are true and documented.
After watching this film, I was filled with a range of emotions: sadness, trauma, grief, and anger. Spiritually my heart was broken. I drove home in silence that night. Exiting the freeway sitting at the off-ramp, there were several cars ahead of me. A man was standing with a sign asking for money, and the car at the front of the line rolled down their window and gave him a dollar.
And then it struck me! Having just witnessed the worst violence on Jews since the Holocaust, an act of chesed, kindness, was revealed to me. It gave me a small sign of hope.
Our Jewish tradition is replete with examples of revelation. In Hebrew the word ‘gilui,’ meaning ‘revealed, shares a root with the word ‘megillah’ – as in the Megillah or Scroll of Esther. And as we know, there is much in the Purim story that is both concealed and revealed to the reader.
Had it not been for the bravery and Jewish pride in both Esther and Mordechai, I might not be writing this essay today, and you might not be present to read it.
Another unique revelation of Purim comes through the fact that it is the only book in all of TaNaCh in which the name of God is not mentioned. Yet if we look closer in chapter 5:4, Esther plans a banquet and invites the King and Haman to attend. We read the words:
יָבוֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהָמָן הַיּוֹם
Yavo HaMelech v’Haman Hayom “... let the King and Haman come this day...”
By taking the first letter of each of the four Hebrew words we find the letters Yud, Hay, Vov, Hay, which spell the Name of God. Still, how can we derive or even accept that in these four words, Yavo Hamelech v’Haman Hayom, the name Haman appears within the concealed spelling of God’s name? After all, Haman wanted to destroy us, and wipe the Jewish people from the earth. Looking closer at this pneumonic, we find the Name of the Divine. And we can learn that even when we are surrounded by evil, there is still hope and kindness.
The Purim story teaches us that we can stand up and be proud of our Jewish identity, especially in today’s times as we’ve seen a rise in antisemitism. The example of Esther and Mordechai to stand strong in the face the strife and adversity have prevailed with us for millennia. It also allows us to share in the joy of the holiday by sending Mishloach Manot gifts to one another as well as Matanot L’Evyonim, gifts to those in need.
The Kevin Bitz (z”l) Mishloach Manot campaign has been a mainstay in our HEA tradition as we are able to send gift bags to every household of our community. This year’s theme is Am Yisrael Chai, and all proceeds will benefit our Youth and Education department. It will be filled with many traditional treats we enjoy and special gifts for our homes, including a special Doves for Peace project from our Religious School.
Thank you for supporting our youth through this holiday. May the joy of Purim bring us pride in our heritage and hope in our Jewish future!
If you have not yet ordered your bags, please do so today HERE. The deadline to order Mishloach Manot for friends in our HEA Community is Friday, March 1.
We will also need volunteers to help prepare and deliver them, and your help will be greatly appreciated. Sign up HERE for this special volunteer opportunity.
Shabbat Shalom!
