Old Masks, New Masks

Arutz 7 ^ | 11 February 2003 | Yaffa Ganz

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opinion
Old Masks, New Masks
Yaffa Ganz
11 February 2003

Who says history doesn´t repeat itself? Once again, in the Hebrew month of Adar, Jews are being threatened with war and destruction. Once again, as in the time of Haman, and more recently in the Gulf War, the threat originates in the northeastern corner of the Fertile Crescent - in the Mesopotamiam-Babylonian-Persian-Irani-Iraqi quarter of the world. Once again, Jews in the Land of Israel are being told to prepare for an attack, an unprecendented attack in the annals of world history. This time, not just fire and metal, but chemicals, bacteria and radiation are the chosen weapons of destruction. Once again, the constant, unchanging element in the scenario is the identity of the victims - the Jews.

If this war does indeed come to pass, it is a war not of our making. We we did not originate it nor do we wish to participate in it. It is a war in which our main interest is to remain safe and sound, hopefully on the sidelines. There is no logical explanation for attacking us. Only Sinat Esav - the irrational hatred of Esau towards Jacob - and the senseless desire for our destruction can explain the mindset of our enemies. The eternal lamb is again being set up for slaughter. It is a case of Jew-hatred at its most pristine.

The timing is reminiscent of the Gulf War in 1991. Then, too, Purim was approaching. My mind oscillates between Purim masks and gas masks, between the festive Purim meal and stocking up on emergency food supplies. And, in keeping with the spirit of Purim, I have trouble relating seriously to war time measures. Purim celebrations and sealed rooms do not mix well. Then again, Purim dictates love for one´s fellow Jews. Our love and Esau´s hatred do not mix well, either.

I oftened wondered where Jews throughout the ages found the spiritual strength to keep doing G-d´s will - and to do it with joy - when actual, immediate, physical danger was stalking them. How could they circumcise their infant sons knowing the Egyptians, the Syrian Greeks, the Romans, the Nazis would soon discover what they had done? How they could sit down to a Pesach seder generation after generation knowing that the goyim were waiting outside to attack? How they could keep the Sabbath week after week, knowing they would lose their lives, or their jobs - depending on the time and place - the following day? It´s difficult to keep one´s mind on things of the spirit when physical danger is so imminent.

Yet, what else is there to keep one´s mind on? What other "reality" really exists other than the deep seated, unexplainable faith that Hashem is our Father in Heaven, our Creator, our Protector - a merciful G-d who will not forsake His people? And who are His people, if not the people I know and see - my family, neighbors, friends, the people across the country and all around us?

With all of their problems, their weaknesses, their misdeeds, the Jewish people still cling to the Torah´s eternal truths. Even those who are further removed from Jewish tradition and who therefore may not "cling" as tightly, even they still perform mitzvot, are committed to the well-being of the Jewish people and the Jewish land, and are still bound to their Jewish identity. Despite two thousand years of Exile, the Holocaust and and the onslaught of modern society, the Jews are still here and when the going gets rough, their instinctive reaction comes from deep within the Jewish neshama. In emergencies, the Pintele Yid always burns brighter.

We don´t always understand what G-d demands of us; we don´t always fulfill our obligations to the best of our limited abilities; we often fail or rebel. But then again, we are the children of the Al-mighty and a father does not abandon his children. Who else does G-d have, if not us? No other nation was willing to accept the burden of His Torah. If only for that, do we not deserve His love, His forgiveness, His mercy?

Therefore, I know that just as we have never truly forsaken Him, despite a very long and painful exile, He will never forsake us. Saddam Husseins come and go under different names and in different times and places. G-d and His people are one, unique, eternal and inseparable. Netzach Yisrael lo yeshaker - the Eternal One of Israel will not prove false. This war, too, if it does begin, will pass. We do not know what price will be exacted; we pray it will not be too high. But at one point, Hashem will declare that we have waited long enough.

“In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, Haman the wicked rose up against them and sought to destroy, to slay, and to exterminate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, on the same day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. But You, in Your abundant mercy, nullified his counsel and frustrated his intention and caused his design to return upon his own head and they hanged him and his sons on the gallows....” (from the prayer book)

And so, I´ve exchanged our old gas masks for new ones and we’ve purchased a few extra bottles of water. I might even buy a dozen cans of tuna and a box of batteries, but I´ll wait a while before making any other purchases or preparations. In this part of the world, things are fluid. One never knows what tomorrow will bring. But when the month of Adar arrives, we take out our Purim masks (for things are never what they seem - the Hand of G-d is hidden in the web of history) and marbim b´simcha - we increase our measure of joy. We´re hoping for good things.

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Yaffa Ganz is the author of forty titles for Jewish children, two books of essays for adults and many articles of Jewish interest in publications worldwide. Her works include the Savta Simcha series and Sand and Stars - A Jewish Journey Through Time (a two- volume Jewish history for teenagers). Copyright 2003 Ganz

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Nicene Creed. Here's what the Christian goyem believe. You'll appreciate that I made a link because I didn't want to offend anyone.