The Serious Side of Purim
For those of you who have past issues of TT and decided to look up last year's Purim issue, you will have noticed that the title of the Lead Tidbit is the same. I thought of the title first, then looked up last year's TT to discover that the flash of inspiration for this year was not as original as I thought it would be. But then I decided to keep the title anyway. The content will be different, and that which might be similar, bears constant repeating. There is a point here that is vital to our future.

In case you still want a different title, take this: "In those days; at this time"
The basic story of Purim is that the lives of many Jews were threatened. That we were under threat for almost a year. That the threat did not materialize and we "escaped" unscathed. Let's say that we merited G-d's working behind the scenes and saving us from Haman and his ilk, But, it seems as if we did not have sufficient merit to be spared the year of fear and panic.

Purim 5751 ('91) marked the end of the Gulf War and our emergence from our sealed rooms. We traded gas masks for festive Purim masks. It seems that we merited being saved, but did not merit being spared a very nervous period when there was serious speculation about chemical warfare and worse. Did we rejoice when the Gulf War ended, or was it more like relief? 
The same question can be put for the events of 2356 years ago - real joy or relief, which appears to be something less than joy. Of course, the Megila testifies to ORA, SIMCHA, SASON, and Y'KAR. But the question can still be asked as a hypothetical.

Back to the present. There are attacks and attempts on our lives almost every day. Some result in tragedy, others in the feeling of relief and thanks to G-d that no one was hurt. And when ONLY a few people are lightly injured? And when ONLY one person dies and 5 others are hospitalized? Etc. Etc. (make up your own scenarios.) And what tragic event - big or small - could not have been worse? 

This is the serious side of Purim. Not the one we look at on Purim day itself. Maybe we need to face these thoughts on Taanit Esther or on Shabbat Zachor. And resolve to do something about the situation.

My point, I guess, is that we must realize that the Jews in the time of Mordechai and Esther had "problems" with their relationship with G-d (in anyway that can mean) and they succeeded in improving that relationship. At least in some significant way. 

And we have to face this same kind of issue in our daily life. There are so many victims of Arab terror. Not just the ones who are killed, HY"D, or the ones that are injured. 

Of course, we give a sigh of relief when we hear those words, "no injuries". But how many people who were not physically injured are hurt on a psychological level that can have serious repercussions for a long time. 
We have to work on our Midot and Torah commitment so that G-d will no only save us from our enemy, but spare us from him as well.

Purim is a partial celebration. We were saved from the evil intentions of Haman. But we remained "enslaved" in exile, now with a Persian flavor. And when the next stage of the Purim redemption came along, most Jews did not take the opportunity to return to Eretz Yisrael and be part of the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash. Some how, we seem to return to this topic often. Sorry. But it's right there. 

G-d took us out of Egypt with a specific purpose in mind - to give us the Torah and bring us to Eretz Yisrael to live a life of Torah here. What of those who said "thank you for the Torah but you can keep Eretz Yisrael"? That was Dor HaMidbar. 

And the same thing has happened and continues to happen throughout Jewish History. Yes, we were saved. Yes, we survived. Yes, we will continue to survive. But WHY? For what purpose? We have to work on that question and its answers.

Back to the other point. Most attacks against Jews today in Israel could be worse. But they could all be a lot better too. Like not happen at all.

The proper solution will be a combination of wise politics, physical strength, and spiritual improvement. Part of Purim's greatness is the increased commitment on the part of the people to Torah - K'Y'MU V'KIBLU. That is a major part of the formula for real success. 

May we merit not only saying, but actualizing LA'Y'HUDIM HA'Y'TA ORA V'SIMCHA V'SASON VI'KAR.