When Haman looked at the Jewish people, he saw before his eyes a divided and divided people, torn by internal disputes. Some supported participation in the banquet of Ahasuerus, and some were vehemently opposed. Some advocated integration into the cultural life of the Persian and Median kingdoms, and some saw this as a threat to the existence of Judaism.
Haman believed that the common denominator that unites all the Jewish people has broken and crumbled. As a result, he was convinced that it would be easy for him to carry out his plot. He also said to King Ahasuerus: "He will become one people scattered and divided.".
The wheel is spinning.
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And truly, the widening of the divisions and tensions within the people is an existential danger. The strength of the people of Israel is in its unity. Throughout history, Jews have felt a bond with each other. If Jews anywhere in the world were in danger or distress, their brothers came to their aid and stood up for them.
We too live in a difficult reality. We are surrounded by enemies who openly speak of their desire to "destroy, kill and lose," and instead of standing against them as one man with one heart, the rifts within us are widening and deepening, reaching an unprecedented low these days. This is precisely the point that gives the "investigators" of our time reason to think that they will succeed in harming the people of Israel.
Naturally, these processes lead to very worrying conclusions, but Purim reminds us that the wheel is turning. The people of Israel have already proven many times their ability to unite in a moment and discover the deep and inner connection between us all.
And perhaps one of the motifs of Purim carries with it the great hope. As part of the joy of Purim, it is customary to dress up. Children and adults alike dress up as various characters, some amusing and some frightening. But everyone accepts it in good spirits, because it is just a costume.
And maybe we dress up all year round, not just on Purim? Does the appearance we present to the outside reflect our true essence? Are our behaviors and the statements that come out of our mouths an expression of our inner truth, or are they also external masks? Maybe if we remove them, we will discover that behind them stand completely different people.
The point that connects us
Many times we have seen in moments of truth how all the 'disguises' fall off in an instant. Wonderful qualities are suddenly revealed. People who seemed cynical and selfish are revealed to have rare kindness and boundless generosity. Because in that moment of truth they shed their 'disguises' and revealed who they really are.
Purim reminds us of the need to remove the 'disguises.' In our inner essence there is no right or left, no 'religious' or 'secular', no Ashkenazim or Sephardim. Deep down inside we are all warm and good Jews, believing in one God and connected to one Torah.
This is expressed in the commandments of Purim. We send gifts to one another and make the poor happy. We remember and demonstrate that we are not a "divided" people, God forbid, but a united and united people. Thanks to this, we are certain that even now the wheel will turn and the great and surprising salvation will come, in true and complete redemption.
