We live in challenging times. Especially for the Jewish people. The world is in a period of upheaval and instability, undergoing rapid changes – and not necessarily for the good. On an individual and global scale, people are grappling with problems for which there are no easy fixes.
The pressures and expectations of modern life have created a culture of anxiety and unhappiness. Major issues, such as rising antisemitism and geopolitical instability, threaten our sense of security and way of life. On top of that, AI looms as a giant question mark for humanity, with no definitive clarity on how it will affect mankind. In short, the future feels more uncertain than ever. In times like these, it’s difficult to feel positive about what lies ahead.
Against this backdrop, we are about to celebrate Purim. Purim isn’t your typical Jewish festival. Other festivals mark supernatural occurrences; Passover with the miraculous redemption from Egypt, and Hanukkah with the miracle of the oil. Not so Purim.
We read the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) without mentioning God’s name once. That omission is deliberate. Our ancestors were saved from annihilation, but it was a deliverance cloaked in natural means. Nothing overt within the entire saga demonstrated Divine intervention.
Nevertheless, we make a special blessing on Purim: He who made miracles for our [fore]fathers, in those days in our times. Blessings that include the term “miracle” as part of their recital are usually reserved for indisputable, open ones. While the story of Purim involved a miraculous chain of events, no specific incident took place that could be deemed as an open miracle. So, why then do we use the terminology?
One of the greatest rabbis and scholars of the eighteenth century was Rabbi Yaakov Emden. He was renowned for his mastery in all areas of Jewish study. His influence continues to be felt today with his authoritative works that he published on Halacha (Jewish law), as well as his ethical treatises. He wrote the following paragraph (loosely translated).
Jews were targeted for destruction from the beginning
“Analyze the Jewish nation’s existence. We are a scattered nation, beset by troubles and oppression. From our very beginning, adversaries sought to destroy us. When I reflect on the wonder of Jewish survival, I believe that of all the miraculous occurrences that were done for our nation, the fact that we are still here is the greatest of them all.”
Rabbi Emden wrote these words in the 1700’s. His words carry all the more significance today, with the Jewish nation having endured so much in the centuries since he lived. Jewish continuity has always been a subject of fascination and mystery, with Mark Twain writing in his famous essay, Concerning the Jews, “what is the secret of his immortality?”
The secret is miracles. Our existence is bound to the supernatural. There is no escaping the fact that we continually defy nature, existing as a historical phenomenon. In those days in our times, the blessing cited above reads. As He did for our ancestors, so does God continue to ensure our survival in the modern era.
This miracle of Jewish survival, however, doesn’t occur in a vacuum: It is contingent on us. Our continued existence is directly related to who we are as a nation.
For thousands of years, Jews have tenuously clung to Judaism no matter the cost. Through persecution and in the face of savage Jew-hatred, our grip on our heritage never slackened. The bond connecting us to our identity was – and is – too strong for anyone to severe. It is deeper than a bloodline, more significant than a nationality. The makeup of a Jew is in the spiritual realm, a treasured intangible asset that no one can rob us of.
During his time in Hamas captivity, Eli Sharabi was held for a short period with Hersh Goldberg-Polin. In the book he published about his saga, Hostage, Sharabi quotes a powerful line Hersh shared with him in their darkest moments. “When you have a why, you can overcome any how.” A sense of purpose lightens the load of even the greatest burdens. The Jewish nation, tasked with a unique mission – to follow the Torah and shine light on the world – knows exactly what they are living for.
Knowing our “why,” however, extends beyond that. There is another factor at work, something else that has enabled us to go on despite being pushed to the brink. Our faith in God keeps us strong amidst all the pain we’ve endured, gives meaning to the suffering, and provides hope for the future.
I once had the opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor speak about his experiences during the war years. This man was Polish-born, and he had suffered six long years of Nazi oppression. After his lecture, I went over to him with a question. “How did you do it?” I asked him. “In those dark times, what gave you strength?”
He looked at me with a smile and gave a one-word answer. “Emunah,” he said simply. Faith was what had kept him going.
On Purim, we celebrate the open miracle that is the story of the Jewish nation. Thousands of years ago, the viceroy of Persia, Haman, sought our annihilation. In every generation since, there have been those who shared that goal. None has ever succeeded – and none ever will.
As we look ahead toward the future, it can seem frightening and unknown. However, one thing is for sure. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. In a tempest of turmoil and uncertainty, God is our anchor. He’ll never let go of us. The Jewish nation is eternal, and the Jewish nation will live on.