Weekly Letter: The “Jewish Problem” As Seen in the Story of Purim
In his letter from a forthcoming volume of THE LETTE AND THE SPIRIT – the Rebbe analyzes the “Jewish Problem” as seen in the story of Purim and as it applies to all times and to all places. In this is seen the secret of our indestructability.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessing:
The story of Purim, as related in the book of Esther, gives us a clear analysis of the “Jewish problem.” The Jews at the time were dispersed over 127 provinces and lands, their own still in ruins. Undoubtedly, they differed from one another in custom, garment and tongue according to the place of their dispersal, very much in the same way Jews in different lands differ nowadays. Yet the enemy of the Jews, Haman, saw the essential Jewish qualities and those characteristics which are uniquely Jewish, making all Jews equally, whether they so wish or not, into “one people”, namely, ‘their laws are different from those of any other people.’ (Book of Esther) –
As a result of this it was Haman’s wish to destroy “all the Jews (G-d forbid), young and old, children and women.” Although there were in those days, too, Jews who strictly adhered to the Torah and mitzvos, and Jews whose religious ties with their people were weak, who had sought to assimilate themselves, yet none could escape classification of belonging to that “one people” and every one was included in his cruel decree of extermination.
In all ages there were Hamans, yet we have outlived them, Thank G-d. Wherein lies the secret of our indestructability?
The answer will be evident from the following illustration. When a scientist seeks to ascertain the laws governing a certain phenomenon or to discover the essential properties of a certain element in nature, he must undertake a series of experiments under the most varied conditions and to find their common denominator which exists and doesn’t change. No true scientific law can be deduced from a minimum number of experiments or from experiments under varied or only slightly varied conditions. For the results as to what is essential and what is secondary or has barely any significance would then not be conclusive.
The same principle should be applied to our people. It is one of the oldest in the world, beginning its national history from the Revelation at Mount Sinai some 3300 years ago. In the course of these long centuries, our people has lived under a variety of extreme conditions, different times and different places all over the world. If we wish to discover the reason for our survival and the foundation of our people’s existence and its unique strengths, we must conclude that it is not its peculiar physical or intrinsic mental characteristics, not its tongue, manners and customs (in a wider sense), not even its racial purity (for there were times in the history of our people, as well as during the Middle Ages and even in more recent times, when whole ethnic groups and tribes have become proselytes and part of our people). The essential element, the common thread that connected us all through all periods of our history which unites our “dispersed and scattered people” and makes it “one people” throughout its dispersion over all the lands of the world and over several millennia, is their connection to the Torah and mitzvos. This leads to the only possible conclusion that it is the Torah and mitzvos which made our people indestructible on the world scene in the face of massacres and pogroms aiming at our physical destruction, and in the face of ideological onslaughts of foreign cultures aiming at our spiritual destruction.
Purim teaches us the age-old lesson, which has been verified even most recently, to our sorrow, that no manner of assimilationism, even such which extended over several generations, provides an escape from the Hamans and Hitlers and Stalins; nor can any Jew sever his ties to his people by attempting such an escape. On the contrary, the success and existence of the Jew depends specifically and only on the fact that “Their laws are different than all nations.”
Purim reminds us that the strength of our people as a whole and of each individual Jew and Jewess lies in a closer adherence to our ancient spiritual heritage, which contains the secret of a harmonious life, hence a happy and healthy life. All other things – whether they are of a spiritual or physical nature, which contradict and go against the foundation and essence of our life – must be negated, but rather they must attune to this vital aspect of our existence to make the utmost harmony and add to our physical and spiritual strength, both of which go hand in hand in Jewish life.
With best wishes for a joyful, happy Purim and may we live to see the world free of Hamans and all types of Amalekites – oppressors of the Jews, oppressors of their bodies and their faith.
Cordially yours,
