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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
March 21, 2008
/ 14 Adar I 5768
On Purim, What's Covered Is Revealed
By
Gary Rosenblatt
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Not so long ago Eliot Spitzer was governor of New York and seen by many to be on the fast track to high national office.
David Paterson was treading the political waters of Albany, much liked by those who worked with him, but how many New Yorkers could have named their lieutenant governor?
The dollar was strong and Bear Stearns was one of the biggest firms on Wall Street, a venerable and respected leader of finance for 85 years.
Reading the Book of Esther today, on the holiday of Purim, one is reminded of this topsy-turvy quality of life. Indeed one of the consistent themes in the ancient story is the concept of v'nehapach hu, loosely translated as inside out and upside down. Events in the narrative take dramatic turns at a dizzying pace, and people's fortunes rise and fall just as quickly.
Such frenetic change seems to be taking place all around us today in our age of multitasking and 24/7 news cycles, but Purim reminds us that our experiences are not unique.
In the Book of Esther, Haman is on top of the world, second in command in the Persian empire, and then he is brought down quite suddenly by the very man he sought to destroy. The gallows he builds to kill Mordechai are used for his own execution. The Jewish people, under threat of extinction, are the proud victors in battle against their enemy.
Those are only a few of the twists of the story that still delights us for its dramatic pacing and poetic justice. For me, reading how Haman responds to the king's request for suggestions on how best to pay tribute to a man of distinction — thinking he is the intended honoree — always evokes a smile. Haman proposes an elaborate parade, and the king agrees; we can only imagine Haman's expression when he learns the intended recipient of royal gratitude is none other than Mordechai — surely it is a look of shock topped only by the moment Esther reveals to him, and the king who adores her, that she is Jewish and that Haman is planning to kill her and her people. The king acts swiftly, and Haman is gone forever.
Ah, sweet revenge.
Another memorable passage from Esther blends a message of faith, fate and responsibility, reminding us that none of us is indispensable, no matter how much power we wield. When Mordechai asks Esther, as queen, to put her life on the line to save her people, he notes, in effect: Don't think you will escape the fate of the Jews if you remain in the palace; if necessary our salvation will come from elsewhere. And perhaps you were chosen queen for this very task.
The fact that Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not contain G-d's name is meant to remind us that His presence and involvement is always with us, whether we recognize it or not.
Purim is that one day a year we get to act out of character, literally. We dress up in costumes, hiding our true appearance. We are permitted to poke fun, even of our rabbis and teachers. And according to tradition, one should imbibe to the point of not knowing the difference between Haman the Wicked and Mordechai the Good — though one would hope this mitzvah (religious duty) would be taken more figuratively than literally, especially when applied to young people.
Still, when else in our age of political correctness do we get the chance to loosen our inhibitions, to vent our frustration at enemies the way we do when we stomp our feet and twirl our groggers at every mention of Haman's name in the reading of Esther?
Purim is an annual day of catharsis, healthy for the mind and soul. It can be a time for reflection as well. Part of the concept of v'nehapech hu is to look at things from a different perspective, to go inside ourselves and question and challenge our assumptions so that we emerge with fresh insights.
Surely Purim teaches us the need for balance in our lives: Go crazy for a day, but come back recharged to fulfill the tasks required of us. Appreciate that life can change in an instant — as it did for the characters in the Megillah and continues to do so today — and make sure the people we love know how we feel about them, every day.
One of my favorite stories is of the wise king who had a ring inscribed with three words to maintain his emotional equilibrium, reminding him not to gloat when life was sweet and to avoid despair when he was unhappy: "Gam zeh ya'avor," it read, "This, too, shall pass."
It's a timely lesson this week for those brought low, be it a former governor or Wall Street tycoon or child in a Sderot bomb shelter. And it's a marker for those tempted to revel in the humiliation of others. This, too, shall pass.
This Purim let us join in common cause for the safekeeping of our people, wherever they are, so that we may be blessed to have future generations say of us, as is said of those in Shushan: "For the Jews there was light and happiness, joy and glory."
Happy Purim.
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JWR contributor Gary Rosenblatt is editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York, the largest Jewish newspaper in America
© 2008, NY Jewish Week
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Reading the Book of Esther today, on the holiday of Purim, one is reminded of this topsy-turvy quality of life. Indeed one of the consistent themes in the ancient story is the concept of v'nehapach hu, loosely translated as inside out and upside down. Events in the narrative take dramatic turns at a dizzying pace, and people's fortunes rise and fall just as quickly. 