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We live in modern times; what relevance does the Purim story have today?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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Are there really no more bad guys around any more? How about Osama bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and all the other terrorists who wish to destroy us? The sad truth is that there has always been an abundance of "Hamans" waiting for any opportunity to persecute and annihilate us.

So how does the Torah expect us to respond to these nefarious people and terror organizations? Well let's take a look in the Megillah and see how the Jews responded to the original Haman.

Mordechai and Esther's plan wasn't ironclad to say the least. Esther hadn't been summoned to the king for thirty days, and approaching him unexpectedly could easily result in immediate execution. Remember, Ahasuerus had already killed one queen in a fit of rage! And even if the king were to allow Esther to approach and state her case, who said he would hearken to her request for clemency?

we must use all natural means at our disposal to fight our enemies. But...ultimately it is our Torah, Mitzvahs and prayers which ensure our survival
But Mordechai and Esther knew that their "plan" was of secondary importance. They understood that salvation comes from G-d and only He would determine whether the "plan" would work.

So Esther instructed all the Jews of Shushan to fast, pray and repent for three days. Meanwhile, Mordechai gathered 22,000 Jewish children and started to teach them Torah. G-d heard the prayers and miraculously Esther's plan succeeded.

Yes, we must use all natural means at our disposal to fight our enemies. But we must always remember to use our "big guns." Ultimately it is our Torah, Mitzvahs and prayers which ensure our survival.


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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Megillah
A scroll. Usually a reference to the Book of Esther, one of the books of the "Written Torah", which is read--from a scroll--on the holiday of Purim.
Haman
Descendant of anti-Semitic tribe of Amalek and prime minister of the Persian Empire in the 5th century b.c.e. Schemed to annihilate all the Jews, and the holiday of Purim was established when the plot was foiled.
Esther
1. Jewish wife of Persian King Ahasuerus in the 4th century BCE. Foiled the plot of Haman, the prime minister, to exterminate all the Jews. The holiday of Purim commemorates this miraculous salvation. 2. One of the 24 Books of the Bible, which chronicles the abovementioned story.
Ahasuerus
King of the Persian Empire in the 4th century BCE. Husband of Esther, heroine of the Purim story.
Mordechai
Cousin of Queen Esther, and Jewish leader in the 4th century BCE. Played a large role in saving the Jews after Haman, the Persian prime minister, plotted to exterminate them all. The holiday of Purim was established to commemorate this miracle.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.