To
My Dear Students,
This
coming Sunday we celebrate the Jewish festival
of Purim, a holiday recalling the events recounted
in the Biblical Book of Esther.
When
Esther becomes Queen of Persia, she hesitates
to help her fellow Jews, even though they are
targets of the evil royal advisor, Haman's, genocidal
plans. Esther's uncle, Mordechai, challenges
her: "Who knows whether you did not
rise to this royal estate for such a time as this?"
Mordechai
teaches his niece that her ascent to power was
not an accident. It was the result of G-d's
master plan that she be elevated to a position
where her influence can save her people.
He tells her she is an instrument of destiny and
that she was put in the right place, in the right
role, at the right time to perform a righteous
deed.
Some
people would say they are here as just another
person randomly born, that what they do has no
ultimate significance, that everything is chance
and luck. Mordechai said to Esther that
life is not happenstance, that G-d placed her
where she could do good, and hence she must do
that good.
Each
of us is placed here by G-d for a special purpose
that only we, ourselves, can perform. We
are placed here now because that purpose
is meant to be fulfilled in our lifetime, not
a hundred years ago or a hundred years hence.
We are here as part of a plan, by design, and
created with intention.
May
we all learn what Esther was taught: don't
think you just happen to be where you
are; don't think you just happen to be who
you are; don't think you just happen to be what
you are.
G-d placed you where He wants
you to be so that you can make the most of what
you are.
Chag
Purim Sameach!
Your
Rabbi
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