Ancient words apt for modern times

Rabbi Pini Pink, Chabad of Greenstone

Reading through the story of Purim, we actually find that not only is G-d not mentioned by name, but in the entire story there is little that is miraculous. In fact, most of it seems to be extremely coincidental. It seems like the work of a great novelist, with all the loose ends eventually coming together.

The story begins with the death of Queen Vashti, and King Achashverosh choosing Esther as his new wife. We then read of Mordechai overhearing and foiling a plot to murder the king, and Haman’s rise to power. Haman’s scheme to annihilate the Jews follows, and then the king discovers that Esther is Jewish and that Haman’s plan would have included her.

All the events leading up to Purim seem to fit right into an almost natural course of events. There was no splitting of the sea, or manna falling from heaven. No oil lasted for eight days, nor were any firstborns smitten. All we have is one coincidental occurrence after another.

And that is precisely what makes the story of Purim so special.

If we take a look at the world around us, everything seems so normal. The sun rises every morning and sets every evening. Trees and plants grow when they are properly tended, and will wither and die when neglected. All this, and much more, is what we’ve come to know as nature. And like everything else in the world, nature, too, was created by G-d. Nature is G-d’s most incredible miracle. We are living a constant miracle. By waking up every morning, we experience this most miraculous event – life.

The very name of the Megillah, Megillat Esther, makes this point. The name Esther translates as “hidden”. The true miracle of Purim, as well as that of our daily lives, remains hidden. But we know that G-d, although His name is not mentioned in the Megillah, was in fact behind all that had transpired, just as He is behind all that happens in the world.

Citing the law in the Talmud [Tractate Megillah 17a], the Baal Shem Tov explained that the words “One who reads the Megillah ‘backward’ does not fulfil his duty” allude also to one who thinks that the miracle of Purim was valid only back in those days. The millennia-old words of the Megillah have a profound relevance to our present-day reality.

Just as the Jews of that time trusted in G-d that He would save them from Haman’s wicked decree, so must we have faith in G-d that He is the one who ultimately controls our destiny.

So this year, when you hear the Megillah being read on 20 March, and again during the day on 21 March, take the time to think about the miracle of Purim, and how much it really relates to us.