Were I a mother living in Israel today, I would probably think twice about letting my children participate in the large Purim parades and festivities held throughout the country. Indeed, the municipality of Holon, south of Tel Aviv, had, as of Wednesday, canceled its celebration this year, fearful of terrorist attacks like the suicide bombing that occurred in Netanya Sunday morning.
According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the commander of the Tel Aviv district police, Yossi Sidbon, urged Holon to go ahead with the parade, promising there would be more than 1,000 police officers and volunteers to secure it.
As the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli police and intelligence services work to find solutions to what by all reports will be increasing terrorism within the country, Israelis struggle once again to “resume life as normal.” The costs of these endeavors, financially and emotionally, are high.
Even though we do not share the physical threats that Israelis face this Purim holiday, it is difficult to enter into the spirit of frivolity that the holiday demands. That’s because for many, though not enough, of us, Israel’s political and security problems are our problems as Jews as well.
Yet the holiday of Purim teaches lessons that are especially applicable this year. Among the most important is that we are morally obligated to save our people when given the chance.
Even though few of us are given the opportunity to do so on a scale that Esther did in saving the Jews of Shushan, that needn’t mean that the concept has become irrelevant to us today.
The beauty of Judaism and its holidays is that they offer something for everyone willing to take a look at them. Saving our people thus becomes a personal obligation each of us can fulfill each day, whether through prayer and ritual observance; political or social activism, as recommended on page 5 by Rabbi Brad Hirschfield; song or dance, as recommended by Leon Cohen, below; acts of charity and kindness; or simply the decision to lead a child by the hand and participate in Purim’s joy, however hard personal or collective challenges may make that.
As we go to press this week, we pray and hope that Purim will gladden our hearts this year, with renewed commitment, strength and tolerance for Jews worldwide, and especially for all the peoples of Israel.
Hag Purim sameach
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