Timeless Torah

There were tears and there were smiles. There was mourning and there was celebration. There was the foul stench of death and there was the sweet scent of life. There were inert bodies in caskets and there were restless actors on floats.

In Tel Aviv there was tragedy and in the streets of Margate, Florida there was a Purim Parade, the likes of which our community had never before seen. In Israel, the press wondered would Jews worldwide call off the planned Purim parties and in Florida the TV reporter asked, “Whether those who had lost their lives were forgotten amidst the joyous event, or were they still on our minds?”

Let us turn to the character of Haman for an appropriate response. Yes, you read it correctly - Haman. The evil adversary himself clearly understood wherein lies the immortal strength of the Jew when he defined our people as, .”Am Echad, M’foozor U’mfoirod.” Literally this means, “One Nation, Spread Out and Scattered.”

So while oceans separate us, our common history and destiny unite us. It may be true that we are scattered throughout the world, each Jewish community unique in their language, dress, food and culture, nonetheless underneath the facade of our external differences beats the same Jewish heart and soul. Thus we share the pain and happiness of each other. There is however another reason that explains why we can still have a festive Parade in the face of so much bloodshed. It is because we march to the tune of a different drummer. To understand this concept we must explore the deeper significance to the words, “Am Echad - One Nation.”

Our life’s purpose is to bring to the world’s attention that everything ultimately belongs to only He that can honestly be called Echad - One. Of course I am referring to He who is meant in the verse, “Shma Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad - Hear O’ Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. ”

Even though we have been the victim of countless Hamans, on Purim the Jew finds the strength to make merry. His laughter is based on the assurance that these days will be changed from, “Sorrow to joy, from mourning to feasting.”

Indeed, the mourner in Israel and the parade participants march the same road bearing the same banner: Am Yisroel Chai -The People of Israel Live on! May this flag we wave serve as a warning and notice to those who would stand in our way. The final Purim Parade is at hand and the band leader is none other than Mr. Echad.

Haman’s contentions, that the Jews are “scattered, [their] laws are different and [they] do not observe the laws of the king, were in fact correct? So why did the Persian king change his mind?