Page 38 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

PURIM READING

Esther, Chapter Three “The greatest gift we can give our

— ג קרפ ,רתסא תליגמ — Yael Leibowitz
children is not money or possessions,

but a story – a real story, not a fantasy,

What’s in a Name? one that connects them to us and to

a rich heritage of high ideals…”

he holiday of Purim has a some- “Purim.” However, a close look at lot envisions how reward and punishment
what surprising etymology. Its casting, and how it was understood in will be doled out by G-d at the end of rabbi jonathan sacks zt”l
Tname derives from a minor the ancient world, reveals the profound time (Yishayahu 34:17).
episode in chapter 3 of the Megillah theological message embedded in the
that, if the holiday were not named after name. G-d does not appear explicitly in
it, many of us probably wouldn’t even Megillat Esther, and the events it tells of Tell your story to your children in a beautiful bespoke book.
remember: “” Today, when we are devoid of overt miracles. However,
the author of the Megillah urges his
“In the first month... ‘the lot’ was cast talk about casting readers to look for G-d even when Don’t know how or where to start?
before Haman concerning every day there are no internal guarantees of His I can help you do that!
and every month, [until it fell on] the lots, or the rolling intervention. He does so by including
twelfth month, that is, the month of of dice, we are serendipitous occurrences and perfectly 1
Adar” (3:7). essentially speaking ironic reversals throughout the
Later in the Megillah, the topic of lots about random odds, Megillah, the cumulative effect of which After producing over 35 family legacy books, I can tell you
makes us hyper-aware of the likelihood
is mentioned again as the source for the and about leaving of Divine intervention.
holiday’s name. things up to chance that the benefits go far beyond the written page:
“Haman son of Hammedatha the The irony of Haman’s impalement ɜ Connecting grandparents to grandchildren.
during the very month that “was chosen”
Aggagit, the foe of all the Jews, had Today, when we talk about casting lots, for his plan, would not have escaped the ɜ Peace of mind, knowing you have preserved your legacy.
plotted to destroy the Jews, had cast or the rolling of dice, we are essentially attention of ancient Jewish readers. At
a pur – that is, the lot, with the intent speaking about random odds, and the very least, it would have given them ɜ Family pride and immeasurable pleasure for years.
to crush and exterminate them. But about leaving things up to chance. pause to reflect on whether, perhaps,
when [Esther] came before the king, he In the ancient world however, it was G-d was working behind the scenes the ɜ Memories will never fade.
commanded, ‘With the promulgation of believed that Divine will was manifest entire time. Like those ancient readers,
this decree, let the evil plot, which he in the process, and as such, lot casting we experience the Megillah the way ɜ A magnificent way to honor your parents. No regrets and no guilt.
devised against the Jews recoil on his was used to select one possibility from one stares at a perfectly drawn optical ɜ Your children, grandchildren and future generations will gain
own head!’ So they impaled him and his illusion. We look for what we think we
sons on the stake. For that reason these a variety of others. This practice was see, or perhaps what we want to see, insight and wisdom into what it means to be part of your family
days were named Purim, after the pur.” common throughout the near east, but we are never convinced that what and to live a meaningful life.
and in the Tanach as well, we see we are seeing is the only reality. That
The holiday of Purim celebrates a chain G-d communicating His preference very experience, intentionally cultivated
of events that led to the salvation of through lots. Most famously, lots were by the author, remains the challenge, “Thank you for making my father’s dream a reality.
the Jewish people. How interesting used to decide which male goat would and the joy of Jewish history. As such, You are a professional par excellence and it was a
then, that the author of the Megillah be sacrificed and which would go to the holiday is named for everything
didn’t choose to name the holiday Azazel on Yom Kippur. Along similar Haman’s pur encompasses. pleasure working with you.” — judy katz, efrat
after the brave deeds of its heroes, or lines, we know that much of the Land of
even after one of the more significant, Israel was divided among the tribes by
climactic events of the story, but rather a lottery system. In Yehoshua, lots were Yael Leibowitz has taught Continuing
the relatively small act of lot casting used to identify Achan, the man who Education courses and served as Resident
performed by the villain of the story. had violated a serious post-war taboo, Scholar in New York. She is currently
In the Second Book of Maccabees, and in Samuel I, lots were used to select teaching as she continues her studies at
Bar-Ilan University.
for example, the day is referred to as Saul, Israel’s first king. Other Biblical
“Mordechai’s Day,” which at first blush, examples abound, and Yishayahu A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
seems to make a lot more sense than HaNavi refers to lot casting when he mizrachi.org/speakers
Call or email me today. Don’t wait till it’s too late!

+972-52-3115682 • dannyverbov@gmail.com • www.dannyverbov.com

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