PURIM - Then & Now

Purim - the Biblical festival celebrating the deliverance of the people of Israel during the time of Esther.
 

While this is not one of the main seven Feasts of the Lord listed in the Bible, it is said in Esther 9:27, 28 that these two days should be remembered and kept according to their appointed time every year throughout every generation.

So, ever since the time of the exile of the Jewish people to the land of Persia, they have been remembering God's Hand of protection, keeping them as a people, and against all odds.  Today the festival is joyous (as we're sure it was then as well) with children and adults alike dressing up as characters of the original time period.  Many have also decided to dress as other characters as well.

Children in the Old City.

Purim is also a time to share loving kindness with those around you, to give to the poor, and to give gifts of candy and baked goods - especially Hamantashan cookies (sugar cookies in the shape of a triangular hat - Haman's hat - filled with chocolate, date or fruit spread, etc).

Our very own Kilo (2.2 lbs) of chocolate filled Hamantashan.
They tasted like Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies :)

In most congregations the entire book of Esther is read - the best way to never forget the original event.  Also many will have a Purim play depicting the story in a joyous light-hearted way, with all the children booing whenever the name of Haman is mentioned, and twirling groggers (noise makers made especially for Purim).  We participated in such a play last year in the States - a parody using the Wizard of Oz to depict the story of the book of Esther.  Linda was Dorothy (Esther), and Jim was King Az (short for Ahasuerus).  We were excited to be able to participate again in a Purim play here in Jerusalem! Linda was a "banquet guest" of the King, and Jim played the part of Mordecai (Esther's cousin who adopted her after her parent's death).  It was great fun with much laughter. 

As Purim officially began in Jerusalem Sunday evening, we decided to begin our celebration at the Kotel (Western Wall).  We noticed a gathering of reporters by the Western Wall Tunnels entrance, and decided to find out what all the fuss was about. Jim wedged his way into the crowd just in time to get this photo of Sarah Palin who was visiting Jerusalem and expressing her support of Israel.  

So, to the reality of now.  We live in a time when the spirit of Haman (the one who sought to destroy the Jewish people in Esther's time) is alive and well.  It's interesting to know that the geographical place of Persia in the book of Esther is now called Iran.   It should come as no surprise to any of us that the leader of the nation of Iran has repeatedly stated his desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  Additionally, it should also come as no surprise to see the influence that Iran has in this region...in Lebanon - just to Israel's north, in Syria - northeast, and in Gaza - closer than just around the corner...

So this past weekend, while the people of Israel and Jews all around the world were celebrating and remembering the deliverance of their ancestors so very long ago - mortars and rockets were once again launched into southern Israel.  A little farther east- more rockets were launched into Beer Sheva, the largest city in Israel's south.  Then again, more were launched north on the coast - landing only about 11 miles south of Tel Aviv.  Well over 50 attacks within less than a week.

While the nation was grieving the loss of a family brutally murdered in their beds on Shabbat just a few weeks ago, the recent bombing at a bus stop in central Jerusalem is being dealt with.  It's been interesting to see how the people here react to tragedy.  While there are different viewpoints to every situation, the people pull together as one. 

The people here are so resilient.  Within minutes, the mayor immediately went to the scene and encouraged the nation to resume there normal lives.  And they did.  He stated that we will not let the terrorists win.  Within hours the scene was cleared.  The very next day, we rode our bus and went by the bus stop that had blown up.  You never would have known it had happened.  The phone booth was replaced, the food shack that was destroyed was rebuilt and open for business, and there were people at the bus stop waiting for their bus.  A kind older woman on our bus pointed to the scene, and asked if we were aware what had happened there just the day before.  We sadly nodded our heads and shared that moment with the others on the bus.

If you look at the history of the Jewish people, both Biblical and modern, you can't help but see the Hand of God protecting them.  As awful as the holocaust was with its Haman of the day, they did survive - amazingly, and God brought them back to the Land that He promised their forefathers, way back before the time of Esther.  "I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God. Amos 9:15  Then, in the many wars they've been in since , including the war waged against them immediately as they were declared as a Nation in 1948, God's supernatural Hand of protection has always been evident.  How else could a nation the size of New Jersey survive against all her neighboring enemies??

We choose to stand with Israel and her people

~ In Such a Time As This ~

Will you?