Community Magazine April 2019

20 Community Magazine Words of Rabbi Eli J. Mansour ords of a bi Eli J. Mansour If you look around the Bet Knesset on Purim night, you will probably agree that the decorum during the megillah reading is almost unparalleled - at least until the kids unleash their ammunition. You see people bent over their megillah meticulously following every word. This is noteworthy, since even for the reading the holy Torah itself on Shabbat, you will inevitably find those same people daydreaming or even dozing off. The question is why. What is so special about the Megillat Esther that it commands such paramount prominence? The mekubalim (kabbalists) teach that there is a unique spiritual light which is revealed on Purim. They explain that this light actually emanates from the megillah . What is this secret illumination that makes this book so special? What the Halakha Tells Us The question becomes bigger when you consider that also in halakha reading the megillah has a rare stature. First, the G emara in Masechet Megillah (p. 3) states that the megillah on Purim overrides even the most holy of s Even Kohanim in the Bet Hamikdash must interrupt sacrifices; Levi’im must leave the stage of their singing; Yi descend from their post in the Temple to read Megillat Moreover, the G emara continues and says that reading chapters of the Purim story even overrides learning Torah indeed surprising. The Gemara even entertains the possibility that reading Esther would override a met (burying a corpse that has n caregivers). Although the co is that megillah does not overr missva, the very thought is ast We know that met missva all other misvot. Even some his way to bring the korba (Paschal sacrifice) or the Kohe (high priest) about to enter t of Holies on Yom Kippur must opportunity to do so and ten corpse. What is so importan reading the megillah ? It see merely a Rabbinic command t “… remember to bring your sunglasses with you - not as a costume, but because of the tremendous light that emanates from the megillah as When Preparing for Purim – Don’t Forget the Sunglass Mishloach Manot Matanot L’evyonim Sunglasses Megillah Reading Purim Seuda PURIM CHECKLIST The week before Pesah preparing and cleaning out homes is at the forefront of our minds. Over the generations observance of many laws and customs generally slacks off. This is not true about the misvah of Pesah. It has retained our fullest commitment, despite the fact that it has become harder to do over the years. In the old days, a family lived in a single-room dwelling and didn’t accumulate nearly as much junk as we do. It was so much easier to clean. There weren’t the various coats and pocketbooks that each had to be checked. They lived simpler lives, without storage sheds, basements, and garages. Neverth less, our ladies rise above and beyond the letter of the law to fulfill this misvah . To their credit, they are “petrified” when it comes to hames, and Baruch Hashem , there is no one irrespo sible in this area. Greatness of the Jewish people Rebbe Levi Yishak of Berditchev was a famous saddik , who was especially known as the defender of the Jewish people. He was always able to view Jews in a positive light, no matter what. There is a famous story about him approaching a Jew eating on the fast day of Tisha B’ab. The Rabbi says, “Perhaps you didn’t know today is Tisha B’ab day?” The man replies, “I know it is.” The Rabbi is not discouraged. “Perhaps you didn’t know it’s prohibited to eat today?” “I know it is,” came the insolent reply. The Rabbi persists, “Well at least you probably didn’t realize t at the food you are eating is not kosher, right?” “I k ow it’s not kosher, and I’m eating it anyway.” At at point, the great saddik raises h s eyes o Heaven and says, “Dear L-rd, look how precious Your children are. Ev n a Jew who ats non-kosher on Tisha B’ab refuses to tell a lie!” One Ereb Pesah , Rebbe Levi Yitshak wanted to show Gd how precious His people are. What did he do? He called one of the local smugglers and asked him to obtain for him a certain amount of Turkish wool. In those days, Russia was at war with Turkey, and ossessing Turkish goods was a major criminal offense, liable for severe punishment. Yet, for the right price, the smuggler agrees, and comes back a few minutes later with the contraband. Next, the Rabbi walks out into the Jewish neighborhood and knocks on the first door he sees. He tells the owner, “There is a medical mergency and I “We have an obligation to mak sure that we bequeath our children ch rish d memories of our own family during Pesah preparations and the seder night.” לעילוי נשמתם של משה בן עליזה, יצחק הלל בן עליזה, והנרייט לאה בת עליזה, דוד בן גילה, רבקה בת גילה, יהושע בן גילה, משה בן גילה, שרה בת גילה, יעקב בן גילה, ואליאנה בת גילה. ולרפואה שלמה ליוסף בן אהובה מסעודה, שילת אהובה בת עליזה, ודניאל בן עליזה. Pesah Prep includes Keeping Kids in the Picture