Jewish holidays tend to commemorate miraculous historic events in which G-d saved the Jewish people with open miracles.
Yet, if we want to truly celebrate a holiday, if we want to access its soul and find its ability to elevate our lives, we need to personalize the ancient narrative.
On Purim, we celebrate the Jews miraculous rescue of the Jews from annihilation more than 2,000 years ago in ancient Persia. Haman, wicked advisor to King Ahasuerus, despised the idea of Jewish identity. So he convinced the King that Jews deserved to die, and the palace issued an utterly evil decree. The Jews were worried. They prayed, they fasted, and they didn’t back down; their commitment was strong. And they were ultimately saved.
Beautiful narrative. But how is that my story? I have, thank G-d, never been threatened with annihilation. I’ve had, and continue to have, my share of stresses, problems and close calls, but nothing in the realm of mortal danger. So I can’t honestly see myself in the shoes of the Jews of ancient Persia.
Unless….
Unless I focus on their moral challenge. The Jews were asked to repudiate their relationship with the Divine, and they decided to honor that relationship, even at the expense of their own lives.
We, too, face moral challenges (although the consequences are totally different – thank G-d – than those faced by the Jews of ancient Persia). We each have a relationship with our Creator, and have the ability – and hopefully the commitment – to honor that relationship through our actions.
But that commitment is often threatened. For example, if one is committed to lighting Shabbat Candles on Friday before sundown, what happens when life seems to get in the way, especially if it’s “just this once.” Or if one is committed to “respectful discourse,” does that internal pledge collapse in the face of a friend or co-worker’s unwelcomed comment?
When a relationship matters, we find a way to honor and protect it, even in the face of challenge. If we’re committed to G-d’s guidance, to our Jewish identity, then we stick with it, even in the face of challenge. Just like our ancestors who lived through the Purim saga.
On Purim we rejoice. We take an opportunity to bask in the beauty of our relationship with the Divine, we uncover our own deep commitment to staying the course, even when it’s difficult, and we thank G-d for the opportunity.
L’chaim and happy Purim!