Rega lifney Shabbat...and Purim

Shalom All,

This morning, as I was on my way to work, I saw children and teens walking to school, their hands filled with "Mishloach Manot" for Purim. Although the holiday is still a couple of days away, anyone visiting Israel these days can't escape the coming holiday: costumes in all the shops, gadgets and special makeup. The kids are busy with nothing else: Rotem is counting the minutes toward the great Purim party her friends are arranging; Roy is nagging me to allow him to color his hair ("just for the holiday, mom". I didn't fall for that excuse yet...) Bar wanted to be a thief, but since there was no such costume in the store, he settled for being a policeman. I guess if you can't have one, you might as well settle for the opposite...works for the government...:-)

Purim is just one more reminder that we have been threatened, as a nation, time and again. I received a wonderful email today from one of our regional directors, Anat Sharvit. She received it from a guy who is busy up in the Galilee: he is part of a group that is establishing a new village by the name of "Michal" on mount Gilboa. Talk about incredible Jewish continuity: a village named after our biblical queen, on the hill that played a major role in the lives of our biblical Kings - Saul, David, and prince Yehonatan, created in the modern state of the Jewish people...I can't think of such a combination anywhere else in the world.
The email repeated some statements that have been floating around the net for over a year now - talking about how we have survived our enemies throughout history, and about all the amazing achievements the tiny Jewish state has accomplished - and then it said, among other things, the following:
"....look at us. The people of The Book. Long ago we were a bunch of slaves in Egypt, and now we are still here, speaking the same language, in the same place, here and now.
And things here are OK. They can definitely be better, but still: don't believe the networks. They won't tell you about our festivals, about the people who are living here, continuing their lives, even enjoying."

The next few days will be filled with colors, costumes, sweets and celebrations. True, many more of us need help this year to really enjoy. But there are also many, many of us who are giving a helping hand to others so that the holiday can indeed be a nation-wide celebration. That's our real strength. That's why I believe that, just like some of us today are building towns with names from our Bible, there will be others in generations to come that will continue to do the same.

Thank you, Anat, for the reminder.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
Liat