Dear friends and members,
Purim Sameach! As we celebrate the miracle of Purim, let's draw strength from the timeless message of hope and resilience. In these uncertain times, as we face challenges and threats, may we remember that the Jewish people have always overcome darkness with light. May our prayers, our unity, and our faith be our shield and protection. May Israel and all of Am Yisrael be blessed with peace, safety, and deliverance.
On Shabbat in shul, we spoke about the idea of being a giver. We started this month with machatzit hashekel, a reminder of our collective responsibility to support the community, and we continue with mishloach manot, sharing joy and friendship, and matanot la'evyonim, gifts to those in need. By doing so, we focus on people around us who are going through challenging times and need help. This focus on others is a great protection for us and for Klal Yisrael against our enemies, as it fosters unity and kindness.
But sometimes it's hard to support others, especially those that on the face of it are against us. We ask ourselves, why should I support them? But the answer is that when you see someone dressed up in Purim as a scary animal or a clown, you don't think to get angry or scared, or take it seriously. It's just a costume.
So too in life, we meet many people who are dressed up: one is dressed as arrogant, another as rude, another as indifferent and aloof... but that's not their true self, it's just a costume. Sometimes even our children dress up like this and behave negatively. In all these cases, we need to relate to their inner goodness and purity, empower it, and maybe even help them gently remove the masks they've put on.
Many times we've seen how all these masks fall off at once, in a moment of truth that reveals their true essence. Even the Jews in the Megillah dressed up as complete assimilators, but when faced with Haman's decree of destruction, they remembered who they were, and their inner truth was revealed. It's not just them; we too wear such masks sometimes. This understanding and love for others, no matter how they appear or behave, is something we should take from Purim into the entire year.
Wishing you all a happy and safe Purim,
Rabbi Eliyahu Tal