• CONTACT Ji
  • DONATE to Ji
Jewish InteractiveJewish InteractiveJewish InteractiveJewish Interactive
  • Products & Services
    • Ji Products & Services
    • Jigzi
      • Jigzi Pro Tips
      • Jigzi Training
    • Curriculum Series
      • Ji Alef-Bet: Hebrew Reading Curriculum
      • Hebrew Reading Fast Track
      • Ivrit Misaviv La’Olam – עברית מסביב לעולם
        • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses
      • Shabbat Interactive
      • My Online Siddur
      • Ji Israel Bytes
      • Tales of Jerusalem – ילדים מספרים ירושלים
    • Ji Prime
    • The Ji Collection (Apps)
      • Ji Studio
      • Ji Calendar
      • My Menorah
      • Sukkah Challenge
      • Make it Grow-Tu Bishvat
      • Alef Bet Wheel
      • Mitzvah Hunt
      • iThankYou – Modeh Ani
    • Training & Support
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses
  • Teachers
    • Teachers
    • Educator resources
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses
    • משאבים בעברית
  • School Leaders
    • School Administrators
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses
  • Parents
    • Parents
    • Parent resources
    • PJ Library on Jigzi
  • Insights
    • Ji Blog
    • Ji News
    • Ji’s 18 Min Leaders – Insights into Success
    • What our users say…
  • About Us

The Potential of Purim

By Corinne Ossendryver | Ji Blog | 0 comment | 8 September, 2023 | 0

Written by Rabbi Johnny Solomon

A basic reading of the section of the Bible known as the Torah (Pentateuch) has led many people to conclude that good only occurs when humanity listens to God and that when we do not, bad things happen.

Perhaps even more stark in its message is the section of the Bible known as the Neviim (Prophets), because it is from these stories that we deduce that humanity very rarely listens to God, which is why so much bad occurs.

However, embedded in the section of the Bible known as the Ketuvim (Writings) is Megillat Esther (The Book of Esther), and it is in this book – which is the only book in the Bible that does not mention the Name of God – where we have a very different yet critically important message. Put simply, what we learn from this inspirational story is that even when the Word of God cannot be heard, humanity can act in ways that reveals the Will of God.

Naturally, all this makes Megillat Esther unique. Unlike most other Biblical stories whose heroes are God or a prophet, and in contrast to most other Biblical stories whose positive outcome is the result of miracles or plagues, Megillat Esther affirms the impact we can have – even when we struggle to see the Hand of God in our lives. Consequently, while Megillat Esther may inspire people to have faith in God, it does so through nurturing our faith in what we – as humans – can achieve. As Rav Tzaddok HaKohen of Lublin famously remarked ‘just as a person must believe in God, so too, they must also believe in themselves’.

Many people believe that a key message of Purim, when we dress up, wear masks, and read Megillat Esther, is to highlight the fact that behind the façade of so-called natural events and human intervention is the Hand of God. However, I believe that while we often struggle to see the Hand of God in the world, we no-less regularly fail to see the opportunities of humanity to make a difference in the world – while we struggle to have faith in God, we equally struggle to have faith in ourselves – and so it is on Purim when we wear masks and pretend we are someone we are not, to inspire us to become who we can be.

So let us use this Purim to remind us of our potential; let us use this Purim to remind ourselves to have faith not only in God, but also ourselves, and by doing so, let us inspire ourselves to begin the slow yet self-fulfilling journey of growing into who we need to be.

Download e-Book for Purim

Rabbi Johnny Solomon is a passionate, reflective and energetic Jewish educator. He has a BSc (Hons) in Maths and Religious Studies, a teaching qualification from the University of Herfordshire and semicha from the Montefiore Kollel in London. While living in London, Johnny held numerous senior positions in Jewish education including Head of Jewish Studies at Immanuel College, Assistant Head at Naima Jewish Preparatory School, Team Leader at the Jewish Curriculum Partnership and Head of Jewish Studies at Hasmonean Girls’ School. In 2012 Johnny moved to Israel where he spends his time writing great Jewish educational content for Jewish Interactive, and teaching at post-high school seminaries.

Jigzi, Purim, Rabbi Johnny Solomon

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ji Blog Posts

  • Going Out on a Limb for Trees
  • Help your Children Appreciate the Wonder of Nature
  • About Tu Bishvat
  • Eight Bright Ideas for Chanukah!
  • Education in light of Chanukah
  • My Menorah: Making the most of Chanukah!
  • 8 Ways Chanukah Can Last a Lifetime
  • As I Click and Cut, I Create
  • We Have Your Back, Wonder Woman
  • Permanent, Temporary and Digital Dwellings

Tags

21st-Century teaching (19) active learning (7) Anat Goodman (5) app (8) Beit Issie Shapiro (5) blended learning (3) Chana Kanzen (7) Chanukah (10) critical thinking (5) digital technology (13) gaming (4) Guest Blog (5) Innovation in education (4) innovative Jewish teaching (10) iPad (8) Israel (4) Ivrit Misaviv La'Olam (14) J-STEM (4) Jewish childrens' apps (9) Jewish EdTech (5) Jewish education resources (3) Jewish Interactive (11) Jigzi (55) JI Studio (5) Ji Tap (7) Ji Tap Game Creation (9) My Menorah (7) NAJDS (3) Pesach (6) Purim (10) Rabbi Johnny Solomon (9) Rifki Orzech (19) Rosh Hashanah (6) Sammy Morhaim (8) Shabbat Interactive (4) Shavuot (5) Sukkah Challenge (6) Sukkot (7) Teaching Hebrew (11) technology (8) Tefillah (5) Tu Bishvat (4) Workshop (11) Yom Ha'atzmaut (4) Yom Kippur (5)

Jewish Interactive

Donate to Jewish Interactive

Jewish Interactive is a registered
501(c)(3) in the US with tax ID 46-1331618

The Jewish Interactive Educational Trust is a Section 18A (1)(a) in South Africa
(Registration IT36/2012) (PBO 930 038 343)

Jewish Interactive is a registered charity
in the UK (Charity Number 1151408)

Useful links

  • Jigzi
  • Ji Israel Bytes
  • The Ji Collection (Ji Apps)
  • Ji Studio
  • Products & Services
  • Teachers
  • School Principals & Managers
  • Parents
  • About Us
  • Training and Support
Jigzi

Subscribe

Sign up for newsletter

Follow us

Contact us

Contact Ji

[email protected]

Ji United States
Tel: +1 (866) 601-8000

Ji United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)79 6641 4417

Ji South Africa
Tel: +27 (79) 886 5326

Ji Israel
Tel: +972 (0) 54-597 9555

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Child Protection Policy
Copyright 2024 Jewish Interactive Inc | All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Products & Services
    • Ji Products & Services
    • Jigzi
      • Jigzi Pro Tips
      • Training
    • Curriculum Series
      • Ji Alef-bet: Hebrew Reading Curriculum
      • Hebrew Reading Fast Track
      • Ivrit Misaviv La’Olam – עברית מסביב לעולם
        • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
      • Ji Israel Bytes
      • Tales of Jerusalem – ילדים מספרים ירושלים
    • Ji Studio
    • The Ji Collection (Apps)
    • Ji Prime
    • Training & Support
      • Upcoming Training
  • Teachers
    • Ji Teachers
    • Educator resources
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
    • משאבים בעברית
  • School Leaders
    • Ji School Administrators
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
  • Parents
    • Ji Parents
    • Parent resources
  • About Us
  • Insights
    • Ji Blog
    • Ji News
    • Ji’s 18 Min Leaders – Insights into Success
    • What our users say…
  • Contact Us
  • Donate to Ji
Jewish Interactive