613.org
( Thanking Hashem
for his kindness) announces:
Class 27 of 5769 Lecture
Series
PURIM:
LIVING THE SECRET
March
8, 2009/Adar 12, 5769
Class by Shira Smiles
Dedicated in Loving Memory of R. Moshe ben Mordachi
Halavi z'l by his son Dr. Ido Lavi
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Short
Summary
Summarized
by Channie Koplowitz Stein
Purim is a holiday of wine and disguises. What is the connection
between these two? While drinking wine tends to reveal the true, secret, inner
character and nature of an individual, the disguises and costumes of Purim are
external camouflage of the person underneath. On Purim, we hope to reveal the
hidden secrets that are the essence of the Yiddishe neshama, the Jewish soul. It is on this point specifically,
the “pintele Yid”, the “dot” that still remains
Jewish when all else has vanished, that is the crux of the Purim narrative.
This “microdot” was imprinted on every Jewish soul at Sinai. Even
those of our brothers who do not practice, who remain unaffiliated, have this
inner sense of their Jewishness, and when all the
other chips are down, this one comes to the fore, and they will die for the
sanctity of His name, proclaiming their Jewishness.
Only a few short years ago, Daniel Perl's final statement before he was
murdered by Islamic terrorists was, “I am a Jew.” This often-buried quality is
the hook through which we maintain at least a minimum relationship with Hakodosh boruch Hu and warrant His protection.
So why did Haman believe he could destroy the Jews? Haman understood
that only a Jew himself could sever this relationship. If a Jew willingly and
knowingly renounces his God, he will no longer merit His protection. And the
Jews had bowed down to the idols of Nebuchadnezzar. But what Haman failed to
realize was that the Jews had not done so willingly, but under duress.
Nevertheless, the Jews put themselves in great danger by now willingly going to
the feasts and celebrations of Ahasuerosh and
enjoying the food and the climate of these revelries. Haman saw his
opportunity; he would show both the king and the King that the Jews no longer
kept the royal commandments and therefore it was not worthwhile to let them be.
At the feast Esther prepared for Ahasuerosh
and Haman, the king asks Esther, “ What is your
petition and what is your request.” Esther, whose name embodies the secret
“Yid” she kept hidden within her, must look to her essence to answer her king.
It is not just the mortal king that asks this question, but the King of kings,
who wants to know where each of us stands in our relationship to Him. We each
have our own “palace” where we live with our King. He has built the walls both
of wonderful things and of challenges, each custom ordered to foster our loving
relationship with Him. Will we find Him in our inner core and reveal Him on
this Purim?
Through all the revelry of the day, we must remember that our sages
tell us that Purim is a somber day of reflection, just as is Yom HaKiPurim. On both days we are asked to reveal our core
beliefs and accept anew the laws of the Torah. On Yom Kippur, we regret
behaving as someone other than our true, inner selves. On Purim, on the other
hand, we openly reveal our identity as proud servants of the King. We proclaim
our greatest pleasure in His service. We share what He has given us with
others, for our true joy is not in the feasting on the delicacies of the day
and enjoyment of riches, but in our ability to connect our essence, which we
now fully recognize, with its Source and continue in His service. We have
become this new person, shed all our disguises, and are worthy of personal and
national salvation. So the King takes off His seal and His signet ring, and
judges the new person we now are. The judgment that was supposedly sealed on
the day like Purim is now finally sealed on Purim as our secret, inner,
spiritual essence transforms our outer, physical appearance and we become
totally who we are meant to be.
Here is a Purim Message that Shira would like you to read.
Dear friend,
This is a very important Purim awareness
video created by Aleinu with the help of two young men
who are now sober. They both began their drinking in shuls
on Purim. These boys chose to be part of giving a healthy message to
other families as a way of preventing others from facing the struggles and
challenges that nearly destroyed them.
Please view this video and hear their
messages. We encourage you to email it today to your entire
parent body and put the link http://www.aleinu.net/Parents/
Let us work together to keep our
children safe this Purim.
Debbie Fox, LCSW
Director –
Jewish Family Service of
Class History –
This class was broadcast live powered
by TCN on Adar
12, 5769 ( 30 second delay ) to
1.
Clanton Park Synagogue
11 Lowesmoor Avenue Downsview,
Ontario ( Toronto ) 10 am
2.
Yeshiva
Beth Yehuda 15751
W Lincoln rd,
3.
Providence,
Rhode Island - Providence Hebrew Day School 450 Elmgrove
Ave , Providence, RI 02906
4.
5.
6.
Young
7.
8.
9.
Young
10.
Young
11.
Bnai
12.
Young
13.
Congregation Shaaray
Tefila in
14.
Westmount Shul
and Learning Centre
Estimated 100 to 200 people watched it live.
This class was given in
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