to have lost sight of who is the cursed Haman and the blessed Mordechai as both monsters prepare for battle .
But as the people cry out to God in the dream , their prayers gave rise to a tiny stream that became a river , bringing light into the world . That river was Esther , 13 who had the courage to place herself in the path of danger to protect others , ultimately saving the Jews .
War , darkness , existential danger , and an inability to sleep at night may not be so far from some of our experience today . And , at the same time , when it comes to the State of Israel and for those Jews living in America , some are quick to jump to undifferentiated labels of good and evil . But the blurring of the lines from these dreams – between hero and villain , human ineptitude and divine silence – challenges us to seek out nuance .
This year as we read the Book of Esther may we emerge from this holiday of inversions with a renewed respect for the ways in which the blurring of the lines should push us toward nuance rather than monolithic pronouncements , and toward self-reflection to ensure that we remain advocates of what is good and right . May we wake up to a new reality of “ light and joy .” 14
13
AddiQon 10:3
14
Esther 8:16
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