Jewish Life Digital Edition February 2014 | Page 14

PURIM 5774

ESTHER’S
HIDDEN
STRENGTH
THE HOLIDAY OF PURIM REPRESENTS THE BEST OF
times. It emerged, however, from the worst
of times.
We were never closer to obliteration, both
spiritually and physically. The hedonism of
the prevailing Persian culture was part of
the air that we breathed. It dulled our senses to the point that when King Achashverosh appeared in the garments of the High
Priest of Jerusalem, presenting the treasure
that had been robbed