About Purim (From March 2009)
Purim - A Festival for "Such A Time As This"
As with any ministry, the new year brings with it many challenges and opportunities for us. No doubt in every generation, there are those cynical folk who simply see the cycle of events and Festivals as another repetition of old material.
This is not the case at Beth Roay Tov. Instead, we realize and rejoice in the fact that the Lord is continuing His journey with us, offering us new opportunities to learn more and more about how He intervenes in the lives of humanity. It really isn't so much a cycle as it is an ever-rising spiral, lifting us higher day by day into the presence of God, and affording us the privilege of walking just a little closer to Him.
Most people are at least aware of the Major Festivals celebrated by the Jewish people, (although they may not understand their meaning or significance). These include the Spring 'triplet' of Pesach, (Passover), Hag HaMatzah, (Unleavened Bread) and Sfirat HaOmer, (First Fruits), sometimes known as Yom HaBikkurim. These are followed in the later Spring by Shavuot, (Feast of Weeks) commonly known as Pentecost. Then in the Fall we see Yom T'ruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot, (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles).
There are two other Festivals which are commonly known, though also often misunderstood. These are Chanukah, generally falling in December, and Purim, which comes in March or sometimes April. Because both of these Feast days, like the major Festivals above, are noted in Scripture, BRT joins with our Jewish brothers and sisters in celebrating their occurence and meaning.
This year, (2009) beginning on March 9, for instance, the Fast of Esther marks the beginning of the Festival of Purim. This one day commemoration (actually 2 days as it has one day for those in Israel, and a second day for those outside Israel) recalls the brave actions of Esther, who while in captivity in Babylon, saved the Jewish people from certain annihilation at the hands of one very evil "monstrous" figure known as Haman. You can read all about the origin of the Festival in the Book of Esther.
Some interesting facts about the book of Esther. It takes place entirely outside Israel. It is the only Book of the Bible that makes no mention of G-d at all, and like only one other book, is centered almost exclusively on the activity of a woman, a rare situation in the history of the Jewish people. There has been much controversy around this book throughout time, but I believe that it teaches something very clearly about G-d, even if not by name, and therefore has 'earned' a right to be included in the Tenach.
In this book, and in this Festival as it is celebrated today, we see G-d's undivided attention and unswerving faithfulness to the needs of His Chosen People. Today, the Festival is marked with special foods (hamantashen), costume parties, scripted plays and pageants, and other fun time activities - especially for the children. There is also the reading of the complete book of Esther, often completed so fast that it is hard to take it in.
I would encourage you to read the book of Esther for yourself. And maybe afterward, you will never again ask the question: "What can just one person do?"
For more detail about "Purim" check out our "Recent Newsletter" pages, for March 2009.
If you would like to know more about any of the Jewish Festivals and learn how they have been integrated into Christian practices and liturgies, why not call and arrange for a speaker to come and share with your group or congregation? Just go to the Contact Us page and follow the instructions there.
"Chag Sameach!" (Happy Holiday)
This is not the case at Beth Roay Tov. Instead, we realize and rejoice in the fact that the Lord is continuing His journey with us, offering us new opportunities to learn more and more about how He intervenes in the lives of humanity. It really isn't so much a cycle as it is an ever-rising spiral, lifting us higher day by day into the presence of God, and affording us the privilege of walking just a little closer to Him.
Most people are at least aware of the Major Festivals celebrated by the Jewish people, (although they may not understand their meaning or significance). These include the Spring 'triplet' of Pesach, (Passover), Hag HaMatzah, (Unleavened Bread) and Sfirat HaOmer, (First Fruits), sometimes known as Yom HaBikkurim. These are followed in the later Spring by Shavuot, (Feast of Weeks) commonly known as Pentecost. Then in the Fall we see Yom T'ruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot, (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles).
There are two other Festivals which are commonly known, though also often misunderstood. These are Chanukah, generally falling in December, and Purim, which comes in March or sometimes April. Because both of these Feast days, like the major Festivals above, are noted in Scripture, BRT joins with our Jewish brothers and sisters in celebrating their occurence and meaning.
This year, (2009) beginning on March 9, for instance, the Fast of Esther marks the beginning of the Festival of Purim. This one day commemoration (actually 2 days as it has one day for those in Israel, and a second day for those outside Israel) recalls the brave actions of Esther, who while in captivity in Babylon, saved the Jewish people from certain annihilation at the hands of one very evil "monstrous" figure known as Haman. You can read all about the origin of the Festival in the Book of Esther.
Some interesting facts about the book of Esther. It takes place entirely outside Israel. It is the only Book of the Bible that makes no mention of G-d at all, and like only one other book, is centered almost exclusively on the activity of a woman, a rare situation in the history of the Jewish people. There has been much controversy around this book throughout time, but I believe that it teaches something very clearly about G-d, even if not by name, and therefore has 'earned' a right to be included in the Tenach.
In this book, and in this Festival as it is celebrated today, we see G-d's undivided attention and unswerving faithfulness to the needs of His Chosen People. Today, the Festival is marked with special foods (hamantashen), costume parties, scripted plays and pageants, and other fun time activities - especially for the children. There is also the reading of the complete book of Esther, often completed so fast that it is hard to take it in.
I would encourage you to read the book of Esther for yourself. And maybe afterward, you will never again ask the question: "What can just one person do?"
For more detail about "Purim" check out our "Recent Newsletter" pages, for March 2009.
If you would like to know more about any of the Jewish Festivals and learn how they have been integrated into Christian practices and liturgies, why not call and arrange for a speaker to come and share with your group or congregation? Just go to the Contact Us page and follow the instructions there.
"Chag Sameach!" (Happy Holiday)
