This morning at the daily minyan, in addition to reading Megilat Esther, we read the Torah reading for Purim.
For the third aliyah, I witnessed a miracle.
We called upon all those present whose families originate from Shushan, present day Hamadan, Iran.
As this group of Sinai Temple members recited the blessings over the Torah, I thought of the verse we read at the end of the megila, layehudim haita orah v’simcha v’sasson.
The Jews would experience light and joy.
What does that light and joy look like?
For some, it is a Purim party. For others, it is fulfilling the mitzvot of Purim. This morning, joy appeared before my eyes, as true victory is the continuation of our faith from generation to generation. Could Haman have imagined that thousands of years later, Jews in Los Angeles, originally from Shushan, would say those same blessings in which he looked to eliminate from this world?
This week, Sinai Temple has been filled with joyous noise: Hundreds for the Purim carnival, hundreds for the Purim spiel, and today, our Sinai Akiba Academy students will present their annual play of the Purim story, with pure joy in their hearts and souls, experiencing the wisdom our rich tradition offers the world.
Chag Purim Sameach
