Haim Hillel Ben Sasson
From Berdichev and Zhitomer Jews came to the aid of the Jews of Zhitomer. However, this example of cooperation between cities ended in tragedy. When the Berdichev unit came up against a crowd of rioters at a railway station, the local Jews- fearful of the mob- refused to give them refuge. Ten of the Berdichev group were killed.
From Berdichev and Zhitomer Jews came to the aid of the Jews of Zhitomer. However, this example of cooperation between cities ended in tragedy. When the Berdichev unit came up against a crowd of rioters at a railway station, the local Jews- fearful of the mob- refused to give them refuge. Ten of the Berdichev group were killed.
1. The people of Zhitomer abandoned their protectors from Berdichev because they were "fearful of the mob." What do you think this means? Do you agree with their choice?
2. How do you think you would act in a similar situation?
2. How do you think you would act in a similar situation?
(יא) אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּכׇל־עִיר־וָעִ֗יר לְהִקָּהֵל֮ וְלַעֲמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁם֒ לְהַשְׁמִיד֩ וְלַהֲרֹ֨ג*(במגילות אשכנז לַהֲרֹ֨ג) וּלְאַבֵּ֜ד אֶת־כׇּל־חֵ֨יל עַ֧ם וּמְדִינָ֛ה הַצָּרִ֥ים אֹתָ֖ם טַ֣ף וְנָשִׁ֑ים וּשְׁלָלָ֖ם לָבֽוֹז׃
(11) to this effect: The king has permitted the Jews of every city to assemble and fight for their lives; if any people or province attacks them, they may destroy, massacre, and exterminate its armed force together with women and children, and plunder their possessions—
1. This legally permitted Jewish defense league is a fascinating choice. Rather than overturning his decree, which he asserts he cannot do, King A. allows the Jews instead to defend themselves. What is he allowing and even encouraging them to do?
(טז) וּשְׁאָ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ נִקְהֲל֣וּ ׀ וְעָמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְנ֙וֹחַ֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָרוֹג֙ בְּשֹׂ֣נְאֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם׃ (יז) בְּיוֹם־שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֑ר וְנ֗וֹחַ בְּאַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ בּ֔וֹ וְעָשֹׂ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃
(16) The rest of the Jews, those in the king’s provinces, likewise mustered and fought for their lives. They disposed of their enemies, killing seventy-five thousand of their foes; but they did not lay hands on the spoil. (17) That was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar; and they rested on the fourteenth day and made it a day of feasting and merrymaking.
1. And what do they actually do?
Former Chief of the IDF and current member of the War Cabinet Gabi Ashkenazi, delivered in Berlin at Platform 17, 2009
We will never look lightly upon those who scheme our demise, we will not deposit our security in the hands of foreigners and we will allow no one to control the future of the State of Israel," he said during a ceremony held at the ill-famed Platform 17 in Berlin, from which many Jews left for concentration camps.
From this place, from whence our brothers and sisters were led to the gas chambers without cause or reason but for their Jewish faith, we say to all haters, deniers, and bringers of malice with our heads held high: We are here. The people of Israel have risen and rejuvenated in their country and they demand their independence and security.
We will never look lightly upon those who scheme our demise, we will not deposit our security in the hands of foreigners and we will allow no one to control the future of the State of Israel," he said during a ceremony held at the ill-famed Platform 17 in Berlin, from which many Jews left for concentration camps.
From this place, from whence our brothers and sisters were led to the gas chambers without cause or reason but for their Jewish faith, we say to all haters, deniers, and bringers of malice with our heads held high: We are here. The people of Israel have risen and rejuvenated in their country and they demand their independence and security.
1. Ashkenazi invokes the Holocaust to justify the 2009 Gaza incursion. Are there any limits to how far Israel can take this?
2. What is our responsibility as non Israeli Jews to Israel?
2. What is our responsibility as non Israeli Jews to Israel?
Shaul Magid 2014
There is a story about blotting out Amalek told in the name of the Hasidic master Zvi Elimelekh of Dinov (1783-1841). I heard the story from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. During the Purim feast, Zvi Elimelekh suddenly stopped the festivities and said, “Saddle the horses and get the carriages, it is time to blot out Amalek.” His Hasidim were petrified. “What could the master mean?” Being obedient disciples, they got in their carriages and followed their rebbe. He rode into town to a local inn where the Polish peasants (the Amalekites of his day?) were engaged in their own drunken bash.
The rebbe and his disciples entered the inn. When the peasants saw them, they stopped dancing. The music stopped. Everyone circled around the rebbe and the Jews as they walked to the center of the dance floor. The room was silent. The rebbe looked at one of the peasants and put out his hand with his palm to the ceiling. Silence. The peasants looked at one another. Suddenly one of them stepped forward and took the rebbe’s hand. They slowly started dancing. The musicians began playing. In a matter of minutes, all the Hasidim and peasants were dancing furiously with one another.
There is a story about blotting out Amalek told in the name of the Hasidic master Zvi Elimelekh of Dinov (1783-1841). I heard the story from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. During the Purim feast, Zvi Elimelekh suddenly stopped the festivities and said, “Saddle the horses and get the carriages, it is time to blot out Amalek.” His Hasidim were petrified. “What could the master mean?” Being obedient disciples, they got in their carriages and followed their rebbe. He rode into town to a local inn where the Polish peasants (the Amalekites of his day?) were engaged in their own drunken bash.
The rebbe and his disciples entered the inn. When the peasants saw them, they stopped dancing. The music stopped. Everyone circled around the rebbe and the Jews as they walked to the center of the dance floor. The room was silent. The rebbe looked at one of the peasants and put out his hand with his palm to the ceiling. Silence. The peasants looked at one another. Suddenly one of them stepped forward and took the rebbe’s hand. They slowly started dancing. The musicians began playing. In a matter of minutes, all the Hasidim and peasants were dancing furiously with one another.
This text suggests a different approach to wiping out ones enemies. Does it feel fantastic or is their anything in it from which we can learn?
Rabbi David Booth Purim 2024
We see so many violent options, and begin to wonder: is there a way to find other choices? The Megillah can’t figure out a way past violence, which is discouraging. Watching all the negotiations about a ceasefire and release of hostages makes us understand how complex it is to find a new way. Yet at the same time, we hate it that we cannot find a path to peace.
So for now, we can learn from the book of Esther and send gifts of food to each other. We can double down on a loving, supportive community. We can believe that the more we give ourselves room to breathe and be strengthened by one another, the more likely we are to thrive as a people. We can realize that when we feel seen, supported, and connected we regain creativity that can show us a new path towards redemption.
We see so many violent options, and begin to wonder: is there a way to find other choices? The Megillah can’t figure out a way past violence, which is discouraging. Watching all the negotiations about a ceasefire and release of hostages makes us understand how complex it is to find a new way. Yet at the same time, we hate it that we cannot find a path to peace.
So for now, we can learn from the book of Esther and send gifts of food to each other. We can double down on a loving, supportive community. We can believe that the more we give ourselves room to breathe and be strengthened by one another, the more likely we are to thrive as a people. We can realize that when we feel seen, supported, and connected we regain creativity that can show us a new path towards redemption.