Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Saturday, February 27. 2010

Purim Redux

The Jewish celebration of Purim began tonight.  The story (Megilah) of the Book of Esther is read.  Persia’s King Ahasuerus’ new queen, unknown to him Jewish, Esther, relays to the king the plot overheard by her cousin Mordecai by the king’s councilor Haman to exterminate the Jews.  Esther reveals to Ahasuerus that she is Jewish, and the king learns that Mordecai previously saved his life.  Haman is ordered hanged.  Jews are given the right to defend themselves.  There’s much more to this exciting story of intrigue and integrity found, well worth rereading at least annually.


As important is what’s missing.  There is no appeal to or intercession by G-d.  This is the all the workings of man and woman.


 

Posted by Bruce Kesler at 21:08 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

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That's a wickedly piercing toon --compliments to the artist!
#1 buddy larsen on 2010-02-28 02:05 (Reply)
Happy Purim!
We are just wining/winding down here in Israel - except for Jerusalem, Tiberias and other ancient cities that celebrate "Shushan Purim" one day later, as per the Book of Esther.

Only 2 books of the Jewish Bible contain no mention of G-d's name: Esther and the Song of Songs.

In SOS this is explained by taking the whole thing as an allegory of G-d's love for Israel.

No explanation given for the Esther story... it's about seeing G-d in our non-miraculous reality.
#2 Ben-David on 2010-02-28 11:34 (Reply)
An author --Bruce Feilor --was on one of Glenn Beck's shows recently, talking about his new book "America's Prophet" --a story about the many links back to the story of Moses that are part and parcel of the founding of the USA. He said something very simple which struck me as profound --that the Bible stories endure because they are stories about the the power of stories --and the proof is that a person in need of an opening (or a closing) can ''go back to the text'' and find something that will somehow go right to the heart of the matter.
#3 buddy larsen on 2010-02-28 13:29 (Reply)
I guess I don't read the book of Esther as being without His divine involvement and deliverance.

"When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: 'Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?'"

(Esther 4:12-14).

I read Esther for the proposition that G-d places each of us in a place where we can be His tool for carrying out His will, especially for peace and justice, and we need to respond and be faithful to that.
#4 Jim on 2010-02-28 14:05 (Reply)
Correct.
And, it's the only part where G-d is not [b]explicitly[b] sought for help nor interceding.
#4.1 Bruce Kesler on 2010-02-28 19:26 (Reply)
Here's a youtube featuring Haman, Esther, Mordechai, Ahmadinejad and a guy named Bob.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJnsbh13_-4
#5 Dovid K (Link) on 2011-03-21 16:37 (Reply)

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