Understanding the relevance of Purim today

 

 

One of the beautiful teachings of the Baal Shem Tov about Purim is that it is not a bygone ancient story rather a loud clear and resolute message for today.

 

One of the Rebbe’s beautiful important and life changing teachings about this, is as follows.

 

The Rebbe asks the question – how is it that the Jews were decreed God forbid for death – did they do anything to deserve this?

 

The answer is, of course not, so why would God – for all comes from God – make such a decree?!

 

He answers – the way God works, is that your destiny is assured based on where you think your destiny is assured.

 

A little reminiscent of the story that Zushah – a dirt poor mystic said – I feel bad for my wife – you see I rely on God for sustenance but she relies on me.

 

In other words – and think about the incredible ramifications of this true teaching – your destiny is assured based on where you think your destiny is assured.

 

In other words – the Jews in Persia did not sin, rather they changed allegiances. The message – and not in a bad way, simply in the very fabric of how reality is destined – of going to Achashveiroishes meal voluntarily, was effectively switching allegiances from God towards the government of the land.

 

The ramifications in our personal and global destinies are enormous.

 

It matters not the good that you do, rather it matters in whom you trust.

 

When you and I believe, that our destiny is controlled by God – and as the previous Rebbe said, to trust in God (unfortunately) comes when a person is (for example) drowning and he has no straw to clutch onto.

 

In other words, as long as humanity believes – thinks – there is some other panache, savoir etc. the tendency is to not think about God.

 

It is really amazing to see how even believers – the first port of call is all their physical attractions, be it a doctor, a scheme to make money etc.

 

In fact the Megilah also teaches us from Queen Esther’s behavior – and it was she and Mordechai who changed the destiny – first you call on God and only then do you – with God’s assistance, do something physical.

 

Perhaps it really is as simple as changing our priorities – we all would call on God as a last resort, but effectively it may be to late, as by then the destiny decided in heaven was that you will receive your destiny from where you put your previous assurance into.

 

If we reverse the order – the Rebbe teaches – we first call on God and then do the physical action, we are assured success.

 

The Talmud teaches us that before Moshiach comes we will realize that the only one to trust is God.

 

I humbly posit we have reached this time.

 

Although we are of course assured Moshiach and only good, the fact is, there are existential threats God forbid in Israel.

 

We put our trust in Bibi and he sold Chevron, and in fact resuscitated the PLO, we put our trust in Arik and he expelled Jews from Gaza – trust is a funny thing, like a mirror, once you break it, you can never look through it again – and so now what warms my heart, is that the Talmud’s prediction is fulfilled, for all who trust in God – myself included – know that we can trust no one.

 

The fate of all Jews literally lies only in the hands of God and when we know that, as we do, well then like in the Purim story, we shall see the coming of Moshiach now.