In Those Days, In Our Times: A Purim Reflection

When we must be warned not to look at the media because our pained souls can’t take more.

When words fail us in expressing emotion.

When we realize that the hope of seeing young children return to the light of day and a family reunited despite spending 500 days in hell was our best-case scenario and even this is not to be.

When there is so much hate, so much darkness, so much pain and it seems to slither out of every corner – In Our Times.

And when it slithers, we expect revulsion from those around and instead they hug it, boost it on their shoulders and seem proud, smug and so confident – wearing the colors of death, rape, sodomy, torture as if they are a beautiful rainbow that all should bask in the light.

Why can’t anyone see that the king is more than naked, he is a sadistic murderer who tears clothes from others and violates for sport – In Our Times.

And this king targets not just Jews or Israelis but his own unfortunate citizens if it suits his purpose or helps his cause or perhaps because they are there and he doesn’t care enough to do things differently.

When the world we trusted has melted away and we see those who would champion our deaths shout proudly as if they were being powerful or standing strong – when did cowardice and foolishness become so pervasive? In Our Times.

Purim utilizes the phrase v’nahapuch hu, things were flipped – the greatest threat became the greatest victory. Hashem’s hand is not waxen short but dare we imagine any type of v’nahapuch hu that would result in a day of joy In Our Times.

What is joy to a bereaved family of a young man killed in the prime of his life protecting his people from more death & destruction?

What is joy to a hostage who spent millions of seconds in hell and has the impossible tasks of living, of returning, of moving forward?

What is joy to families that still are unable to bury their loved ones or to even know their status?

What is joy to anyone who has feelings and thinks about these people?

We champion light and life but they champion death – martyr is not our ideal, we believe v’chai bahem – you shall live with the commandments. Life is the goal.

Ohr laGoyim – a light unto the nations – we demonstrate morality and true courage – contemplate the best and most righteous course of action and cling to it, despite the hardships.

But for them… victory at all costs, despicable acts but clothed in false words that ring hollow – resistance – an evil words offered to the masses as if they were not just reasonable but just, pure & sensible.

Has the world gone mad? The college students? The senior citizens? Do we trust that the silent majority remains sane or is this the delusional thinking of all minorities before they are slowly killed and silenced by bad actors?

How we are living things we never expected to happen In Our Times. And yet, it is as if those days are happening right now In Our Times.

May we experience the joy of life, of not being hated, hunted. May we band together as a people celebrating, dancing again. We say about those times: L’Yehudim haytah Orah v’Simcha v’Sason v’Yikar (the Jews experienced light, happiness, joy and honor). Oh, how we need it. Ken Tihiyeh Lanu (so should it be with us). In Our Times.