Looking Forward to Purim

On March 7^th Jewish communities will gather to begin the festival of Purim. The distinctive mitzvah of Purim is to read (or hear) the Megillah, The Book of Esther. It is the only holiday on which the act of hearing the story fulfills the requirement of observing the holiday. (Yes, I know we read the Hagadah at Pesach but that reading includes the eating of symbolic foods as well as the reading.) Why is it enough to just “read” the story of Purim? Is seems like a very easy and passive action for a holiday that celebrates such a joyous occasion! Obviously, this is more than a simple “reading.”

Reading the Megillah transports us in time a place- we are taken to ancient Iraq at a time in which the fate of a great Jewish community was threatened by an enemy of great power. Haman held the fate of the community in his hands (at least he thought so.) His hatred for Mordechai became a hatred for all Jews, that hatred created a plan to kill all Jews within the vast kingdom of Ahasuerus. The story of Haman is one that has been repeated many times in our history. While that is an important lesson about the history of our people it is one that hardly needs an annual repetition. Modern Jewish history has witnessed a hatred for our people that far overshadows the plan of Haman.

I want to suggest that there is another lesson within the pages of the Megillah that do deserve an annual reminder because it is one that we often forget. As we relearn the story of Purim let us be less concerned with the villains and more concerned with the heroes. Let’s make the story of Purim not a retelling of Haman’s threat but the retelling of the ways in which Esther and Mordechai brought that threat to nothing. Purim is the story of “regular” people. Esther, a young woman and Mordechai, a mature and loving uncle to Esther. Neither of them would have been candidates for being “superheroes” but they were!

We often think that history is made by kings and armies. Purim reminds us that history is more often made by “regular” folks who have to choose what to do in the worst of situations. Esther does not think that she can do anything to help her people, Mordechai challenges her by saying that she can if she but tries. The rest is history… the Jews of Shushan are saved not by a mighty army but by the bravery of one young woman.

This is perhaps the greatest reason to re-read the Megillah every year. We already know how the story ends, what is important is for us to be reminded why it ends well for the Jews of Shushan. We live in an age in which there are far too many Haman types in the world. They are getting stronger and bolder every day. The enduring lesson of the Megillah is that any one of us may be the next hero. In every age Judaism had survived because of the everyday heroes who have fought Haman in every corner of the world. The Mitzvah of reading the Megillah reminds us to be ready because, as the Megillah claims “you never know where redemption will be found.”

The Gift of Jewish Memory


This coming Shabbat has a special name. It is known as Shabbat Zechor (the Shabbat of remembering.) The day takes its name from a passage that is read from a second Torah making mention of the commandment to remember the attack of the Amalikites on the Children of Israel. We are commanded to remember this unprovoked attack on our ancestors and to keep the memory alive. Shabbat Zechor is always timed as the Shabbat before Purim. The rabbis said that Haman (of Purim infamy) was a descendant of the Amalikites and so the connection was made between Shabbat Zechor and Purim. It is another example of how the Jewish past is to inform every future generation.

We often, and correctly, speak of the gift of memory as being the gift that has kept Judaism alive. In many ways this is true- without knowledge of the Jewish past there is no orientation for the Jewish future. It would be as if we were dropped off in a wilderness without knowing which way to go. All too often, however, we find that the gift of memory is a bitter pill to swallow. “Memory” has taken on a very negative connotation. At Purim we remember Haman and the word “remember” has, in the modern period, been permanently joined the memory of the Holocaust. While we need to remember the suffering of our people, and honor the memory of those lost, we cannot lose sight of the other aspect of the Jewish memory.

We, as a people, have suffered at the hands of countless enemies. It was a part of our past and is still a sad part of our present. We would be blind to miss the parallels between the threats to our ancestors and the threats that are all around us today. We, better than any other people, know that to forget the past is a tragic mistake. Just as this Shabbat we are commanded to remember the past, I remind you that we are also commanded to look beyond it. Is the glass half empty or half full? Is the history of our people a long litany of suffering or a glorious record of triumph?

On Purim we not only recall the threat to an ancient community but we also celebrate their redemption, their victory. As a student of Jewish history I am sometimes overwhelmed by the many struggles that we have faced just to exist. Luckily, I can counter that by remembering that Jewish history never came to an end. Every threat was overcome, every defeat followed by a victory. To be a Jew who responds to the command “remember” means to remember everything- not just the bad but the good. Our sense of memory must be more than an instrument for mourning. It should be our inspiration to celebrate.

Published in the Florida Jewish Journal 2/28,12

Watch the L'Chaim Show On Jewish Life TV, Comcast Channel 239, Tuesdays at 8pm

Watch for my up-coming interview with Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and Late Night. Date to be announced. DirecTV 366, Atlantic 167, national cable stations or JLTV.tv

The Importance of One

Recently we have witnessed the rise of many “popular” movements.  The “Occupy” movement, the consumer complaints that have changed corporate policies, and civil uprisings in the Arab world- all of these may be described as “popular” because they came about through the efforts of individuals. For better or worse, with today’s instant global communications an idea really can spread like wildfire if not faster! The obvious dangers are undeniable but so are the blessings. Today, going “viral” means that one person can get a message out to the entire world. The dreams and hopes of an individual can become the common property of millions with just the click of a mouse.

What a paradox it is- in a world that seems so large and fragmented, a world that seems to make an individual feel so helpless in the face of government and corporate policies, we find that the voice of just one person can be heard around the world. A personal injustice suffered can become a cyber cry that soon rallies an army of like minded people. Yes, this is a dangerous thing but it also has great potential. It should also remind us of a very simple truth that is sometimes lost in the whirlwind of modern life: one person really can make a difference. One person communicating an important idea or promoting a worthy cause  can change the world. The reality of mass communication is that any individual really can communicate with the masses!

The individual now has more ability than ever to effect change- no more leaving it to “someone else.” You and I are now the “someone else.”  That  “global” concept  applies to just about every aspect of our lives- take the example of Molly Katchpole. She is the woman who started on-line petitions that would cause Verizon Wireless and Bank of America to cancel new charges that they were about to pass on to consumers. She made a difference, her one voice was joined by others until they were too many to ignore.

 Think of the first Jew, Abraham- one man with a unique and powerful idea that would change the world. Not bad for one guy and he didn’t even have a computer!  If you want to renew your faith in the future of our people, then renew your faith in the power of one and remember that you are the one! There are so many people who make the future of the Jewish people look so bleak- we are disappearing they say, but they are wrong. We have all the tools we need to make the Jewish future brighter than ever- still with just one idea, all we need to do is share it.  It wouldn’t be a bad thing is Judaism went viral- hey I like the sound of that.

This article appeared in The South Florida Jewish Journal and The Atlanta Jewish Times

Of Readers and Responsibility


A recent editorial in The Atlanta Jewish Times caused a storm of public reaction. The paper’s owner and chief-editor, Andrew Adler, wrote a piece concerning the possible policies that Israel could pursue against a nuclear-armed Iran. Among the possible reactions that Adler posited was the idea that Israel should assassinate President Obama. Adler has since resigned and is looking to sell the paper. Adler’s remarks caused a crisis in Atlanta- the Federation and other community agencies distanced themselves from the paper, a stand that they said that they would maintain until his resignation. Beyond this, the entire American Jewish community was embarrassed by these comments and now has to do damage control. As a journalist Adler embarrassed himself and the entire community. While he said that his comments were meant “to get reaction” from his readers, his comments about assassinating the president were irresponsible and, in a word, stupid. A journalist cannot write something like that and think that he is just eliciting reaction. As a journalist and as a Jew I am embarrassed by this episode. Reflecting on Adler’s poor judgment and irresponsible words made me reflect on my own role as a writer and community leader.

As a writer for this paper I feel a double sense of responsibility. As the rabbi of the Sunrise Jewish Center I am always mindful that my comments reflect on my congregation. Whether I am speaking from the pulpit or writing in this paper, I know that my words will be taken as more than just the opinion of one person. As a writer for this paper I am always mindful of the responsibility that I have to the readership and to the community. The Jewish Journal produces 160,000 copies every week. We have readers throughout all of South Florida. That means that the opinions and stories that appear here reach a large community. All of us who are involved with the paper must always realize the impact that our words and ideas can have. As a writer I don’t feel that I have to write something that everyone likes or agrees with but I do have to write an accurate and responsible accounting of my ideas. In the age of internet communication the truth is that anyone can write anything and put it out there for the world. On the internet true and false become relative. It seems like the crazier the idea the more attention it gets! I don’t know what you call that but it is not responsible journalism. The other side of that coin is a community based paper like the Jewish Journal or any other community based Jewish paper. Far from being anonymous like the internet, a community paper represents a specific readership. That is why every journalist needs to be very careful with every story.

It seems obvious that Mr. Adler forgot about his readership and decided to concentrate on the “shock value” of his message. Perhaps he was thinking that an outrageous statement can be good if it sparks a healthy public debate. Whatever the intention was it certainly backfired. A good column should spark debate and the exchange of ideas without a “hook” that creates a crisis. I am always very gratified when someone comes up to me and engages me about something that I wrote. That means they read it! That means they thought about it! A journalist should never, however, be tempted to write something just for a reaction- as we see that can lead to a very bad outcome. I take very seriously the trust that all of my readers put in me by reading my columns and I know that the entire staff at the Journal does as well.

All communication is based on trust- you wouldn’t talk to someone if you felt you could not believe him. You would not read an article that you knew contained less than the truth. That is why I must emphasis the responsibility of speaking (or writing) in the public forum. Mr. Adler’s article was a tragic mistake that touched many lives and hurt a community. The Atlanta Jewish Times will, I am sure, bounce back under new leadership. The damage done is another story. Words, once written or said, remain no matter how many times you apologize. It is the task of anyone who would speak on behalf of the community to always remember the trust the community puts in him or her.


This op-ed appeared in The South Florida Jewish Journal, February 1, 2012