Purim Sameyach

Will Sarah Palin understand?

In honor of Purim (Sunday, or Monday in Jerusalem), here's an excerpt from an interesting vort from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin on the power of Klal Yisrael during the messianic era:

For the Zohar, every nuptial is derived from the sacred union between the Almighty and His bride, Israel. In biblical times, when Israel was still in her infancy, God had to take center stage in our redemption from Egypt. However, in the ultimate Redemption with the coming of the Messiah, “the woman – the Jewish people, Klal Yisrael [all Israel] – will run circuits around and dominate the Almighty,” by taking the initiative in bringing about the coming of the Messiah.

This process of redemption initiated by Bride Israel began in the time with the period of the Second Temple, when the Oral Law, dominated by our rabbinical leaders of our people, gained sway over the Written Torah – dominated by God Himself. Whereas God’s name appears in virtually every verse of the Bible, it is the rabbis Rava and Abaye, Ravina and Rav Ashi whose names fill the pages of the Talmud (Mishna and Gemara).

The victory over Haman was magnificently orchestrated by Esther, who placed her life on the line to save her people; “The woman ran circuits around the man,” when Esther, rather than God, is given credit for initiating the victory. Hence God’s name doesn’t appear in the scroll. Yes, He plays a crucial role behind the scenes, but the perceived leader is Esther, aided by Mordecai and the coming together of all the Jews in Persia.

This Purim happens as a war is declared on Libya, as a global nuclear crisis unfolds in Japan, and as the modern-day champion of the rights of the Jewish people, Sarah Palin, dines with the 'king of Israel' in Jerusalem. 

May this be the year when the Jewish people, with the help of Hashem, do everything in our power to usher in the geulah!

A Freilichin Purim