This season announces the story of Esther, as a memorable picture of courage, strength and the survival of our people, the Jews. With all that Israel is facing, we must be aware to cry out to Ha Shem for our people's safety and well being.
Courage is needed now, more than ever. Fear must not overtake us.
The beauty of Esther, within and without, rose above all threatening fears of destruction. Mordecai also stood by, leading and guiding her, along with his people the Jews.
Today, the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, was the day of fasting. It was the day that Haman chose by a lottery (Purim means lots) to exterminate the Jews in order to satisfy his anger against Mordechai.
Esther had actually asked the Jews to fast three days during the following month of Nisan, but the fast day is observed the day before the holiday of Purim. On the scheduled day of the planned massacre, events turned because of Esther's courageous intervention, resulting in Haman's death and the elevation of Mordechai. The favor of Ha Shem was an amazing miracle. Although Ha Shem's name is never mentioned in the book, his hand is very apparent and powerful.
The special fast is mentioned in the Scroll of Esther, The Megillat, which states, "And as they accepted upon themselves and upon their children, the matters of their fastings and their cry."
In our B'nai Anousim history, our forefathers, the Conversos, also kept this fast during the time of the Inquisition. These hidden Jews of Spain, kept their Judaism practices secret, on pain of torture and death. The fast was observed with particular solemnity and sometimes even on a different day, to not risk detection. Our Converso families identified with Queen Esther, the Jewess, in a very special way, as we continue to do today.
As the Scroll of Esther says, she "did not reveal her nation's identity or her birthplace".
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Dona Gracia Singing at The Dona Gracia Hotel
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Such is the story of Dona Gracia Nassi, my namesake. Gracia, or Hannah, during the Inquisition. She was a heroine who stood in the gap to help her people. Today more people must rise to the challenge of the times. As Dona Gracia risked her life to "save her people" from the tentacles of the Inquisition, so may we rise with the faith of Ha Shem to stand in these perilous days for our beloved Israel.
As we watch the events unfold around the world, in Iran and other places, it may be another "wake up call" of the shofar, to continue to stand as never before for righteousness. Scripture says, "He who watches over Israel, neither slumbers nor sleeps". May Ha Shem's angels help and deliver Israel as we continue to trust in him.