A Teaching for Purim

Who knows?

Perhaps it was for this very moment you were brought into the world. (Esther 4:14)
These are Mordechai’s words to Esther, encouraging her to take the risk of approaching the King and acting to save the Jewish people.

And Purim’s words to us as we open to whatever this wild ride of life asks,
Who knows? Perhaps it was for this very moment we were brought into the world.

Who knows? The festival of Purim shouts at us to realize and remember that we live in the realm of mystery. Things both are and are not what they appear to be.

Hidden beneath the surface of all we see is a mysterious force of change, transformation and becoming that is in constant motion.

We don’t know why things happen.  We don’t know what will be.

Who knows?

The Purim story teaches us to not duck from the not knowing,
Not to let it scare us into hiding.

Rather, let not knowing propel us forward.
Let not knowing encourage our engagement and action.
Let not knowing encourage our exploration and audacity.

We don’t know where our actions will lead.
We don’t know the length of our days.

Purim shouts:
     Engage. Risk. Dance.
            Go for it. Act. Love.
Push beyond the limits of possibility.

Who knows? Perhaps it was for this very reason you were brought into the world.

Purim Samayach—Love and Joy to All

-- Rabbi Yael Levy