Dear Ones,

We are getting too practiced at gathering for joyous holidays while we hold the heaviness of the world. As millions of Iranians, Israelis, Palestinians, and many others across the Middle East look to the skies with fear, it may feel strange to celebrate Judaism's silliest holiday. But I hope you'll come tonight anyway. Purim is the Jewish holiday perhaps best suited to holding joy and sorrow, seriousness and lightness side by side.

The Book of Esther, which we'll read tonight, is a mysterious work. The name of God does not appear throughout the entire text, making some scholars think that the whole thing might be a farce. But the center of the story, the notion of brave people risking all the power they have to help those at risk, is apt for our time. Each of us has the opportunity this year to do what Esther did: to bravely take up space in the rooms in which we hold influence and to seek life and well-being for those in too much danger to be in the room, including our own loved ones. And each of us also has an opportunity to do what Esther chose not to do: to let go of the thirst for vengeance and power hoarding, knowing that slaughter nearly always begets slaughter.

Today, we pray for the safety of Iranians, the descendants of the Persians, Jewish and otherwise, in the Book of Esther. We pray for the safety of those in Israel and in Palestine, across the Middle East, and around the world; and we pray that our own gathering— with trepidation and security though it may be— will send ample ripples of joy out to those who cannot celebrate tonight.

I don't pretend that any of this is easy, but I do know that community is what gets us through uneasy times. So please join us for our famous Multilingual Megillah Reading and Kids' Schpiel at 6, our 3rd Annual Great Hamantaschen Bakeoff at 7:15, and of course our world-famous Adult Schpiel at 8:15.

See you there... And let me know how I can support you as you hold all that is burdening you and our world.

Chag Purim Sameach,

Rabbi Emily