Your State of the Union!

Pick up almost any self help book or turn on a motivational podcast and you will likely hear phrases like, “You can do this,” “Climb that mountain,” or “Believe in yourself.”

But when a young Jewish girl named Esther became queen of the Persian Empire, the message she received was very different.

Her uncle Mordechai came to her with a terrifying request. Haman had decreed the annihilation of the Jewish people and urged her to approach the king and plead for their survival. She responded that even as queen, she would be killed if she dared approach the king without permission.

Mordechai answered with one of the most baffling lines in the Megillah:

“Esther, if you keep quiet and do nothing at a time like this, somebody else will save the Jewish people.”

Not exactly a motivational speech. And yet, it was precisely these words that moved Esther to act.

Mordechai was no Tony Robbins, but he was imparting something far deeper. He understood how Judaism truly views history.

He told Esther that G d’s plan will unfold with or without her. The real question was not whether the Jewish people would survive. The question was whether she would choose to be part of their story.

He then spoke the words that define the Purim narrative:

“U’mi yodea… eem l’et kazot higa’at lamalchut.”

“Who knows whether you have come to this position for exactly such a time as this.”

Esther stepped forward, saved her people, and secured her place in Jewish history.

Purim is more than a story about escaping Haman. It is the story of G d’s promise to protect the Jewish people throughout history, and crucially, the role each of us chooses to play in that Divine story.

Yesterday the world watched President Trump give his historic State of the Union address. It made me wonder what our own “state of the union” would sound like?

What choices have we made in our own lives? How many “Esther moments” have we faced? Did we stay silent? Or did we speak up against antisemitism and hateful Israel bias? Did we stand proud as Jews? Did we take on more mitzvot and deepen our Jewish life?

We do not need a Royal Commissions to tell us what we already know. Each of us has the power and the responsibility to shape the future of Jewish life in this country. Each of us carries the courage of Esther within us. The courage to speak out. The courage to stand up. The courage to live openly and proudly as Jews. Each of us have an enormous part to play in our story.

Let’s get started.

Monday is the Fast of Esther, a powerful lead in to Purim. Join us in the evening for the Megillah reading as we relive the drama and triumph of our people.

Purim at The Central is always something special. We have a full lineup of celebrations for young and old, including our festive Purim meal and plenty of ways to celebrate together as a community.

Take a moment to check the flyers and visit our website for all the details. We would love to see you there and celebrate as one Central family.

Tomorrow evening, please join us for a joyful L’chaim at 4:45pm as we celebrate the recent marriage of Ephraim and Basheva and warmly welcome her parents, who have travelled all the way from Pretoria, South Africa, into our Central family.

Wishing you and your family a freilichen Purim!

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Levi and Chanie Wolff