When the wicked Haman in IRAN 2500 years ago cast lots (purim) to determine the best day to annihilate the Jewish people, he was happy when the lot fell in the month of Adar:
1) Adar is the 12th and final month of the Jewish year, and
2) Moses died in this month, on the 7th of Adar.
Haman therefore reasoned that Adar was an "unlucky, mournful, final" time for the Jewish people.
However, Haman got it all wrong. He thought that Adar, as the 12th month, represented the end. But it's not. Though Adar is the "final month," it completes an annual cycle -- and leads us to a new beginning.
Haman similarly misinterpreted the death of Moses. In Exodus 23:26, God tells Moses: "I shall complete the number of your days," meaning that Moses will die on his birthday, after completing 120 years. Haman failed to take into account that the 7th of Adar -- besides being the date of Moses' death -- was also the date of his birth 120 years earlier. (This is the source for the blessing that "you should live until 120.") When Moses died, his life didn't end -- rather, it was completed.
HISTORY'S UPS AND DOWNS
Haman misread the omens of Adar, and his plan was foiled. In essence, Haman misunderstood a basic feature of Jewish history...
Throughout history, we see a similar pattern in the national history of the great civilizations. Whether it's the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Napoleon, Soviet Union -- or even Achashverosh's Persia which included all 127 countries of the civilized world -- these "superpowers" exist today as only an archaeological relic. Their national histories are inevitably linear: The nation rises, falls and disappears.
The history of the Jewish people, however, is cyclical. Sometimes we're up, and sometimes we're down. Then it's up and down again. For example, in the Purim story, the Jews go through the cycle -- finishing on an up-swing. In this century as well we've witnessed the full cycle.
This cycle is hinted to in the word "Megillah," the Scroll of Esther which we read on Purim. "Megillah" is related to the word galgal, which means "wheel." Purim teaches us about the eternal cycle of Jewish history.
ETERNAL NATION
In the Torah, God promises that the Jewish people will never be destroyed. God tells Abraham:
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations, an eternal covenant, to be your God and the God of the descendants after you. (Genesis 17:7)
Sometimes the Jewish people may look hopelessly down, without any hope of recovery. But it's only an illusion. On the verse, "Torah is a tree of life for all who grasp it" (Proverbs 3:18), Maimonides explains: When autumn arrives, the leaves think that the tree is dying and they let go. But the leaves don't realize that they've severed themselves from their only source of life -- and when spring comes again, the tree will indeed be very alive, green and vibrant.
The following is a tragic, but true story:
When Theodore Herzl was 44 years old, he died of heart disease -- leaving behind a wife and four children. The World Zionist Organization then allocated three million dollars for investment as a trust fund for Herzl's family. They shopped around and found the most secure, stable place in the world to invest the money: savings bonds issued by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Eight years later, the empire collapsed and the bonds were worthless. Why didn't they place their faith in the Jewish people and invest in bonds of the Keren HaYesod or Jewish National Fund?!
The eternity of the Jewish people is truly phenomenal. The story is told of King Louis XIV asking the philosopher Pascal for some proof of a supernatural force in the world. "Why, the Jews, your majesty," Pascal answered, "The Jews."
ESTHER'S MOMENT
There is a tense moment in the Megillah: When Mordechai requests that Esther approach the king on behalf of the Jews, she hesitates. So he sends her the following message:
Do not imagine that by being in the king's palace you'll be able to escape any more than the rest of the Jews. For if you persist in keeping silent at a time like this, relief and deliverance will come from some other place, and you and your father's house will perish. (Esther 4:13,14)
Mordechai is telling Esther: The Jewish people will survive irrespective of your participation. That is an absolute promise from the Almighty. But still, each individual needs to ask: What can I contribute? How much do I want to be part of God's plan for His nation?
Jewish history is a cycle, spiralling ever upwards, closer to our final redemption. "Torah is a tree of life for all who grasp it." Hang onto the tree, because there's no question it's still going to be there.
Jewish and Only in America
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Q: Why did Adam and Eve have a perfect marriage?A: He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cookedQ: What business is a yenta in?A: Yours.Q: How do Jewish wives get their children ready for dinner?A: They put them in the car.Q: What does a Jewish woman do to keep her hands soft and her nails long?A: Nothing at allQ: Define "genius"A: An average student with a Jewish motherQ: If Tarzan and Jane were Jewish, what would Cheetah be?A: A fur coatQ: What mechanical device causes the most arousal in a Jewish woman?A: A Mercedes 550SL convertibleJewish proverb: "A Jewish wife will forgive and forget, but she'll never forget what she forgave."One of life's mysteries - how a 2 Ib. box of chocolates can make a Jewish woman gain 5 lbs .Another of life's mysteries is when a Jewish woman hangs something in her wardrobe for a while and it shrinks two sizes!The trouble with some Jewish women is that they get all excited about nothing; then they marry him.A Bar Mitzvah is defined as the day when a Jewish boy comes to realize that he is more likely to own a professional sports team than he is to play for one.
Wonderful!
40 Stunning Old Photos
Prospector and Pack dog ready for the summer trail
This is an intriguing picture of Prospector and dog ready for the summer trail.
It was taken in between ca. 1900 and ca. 1930.
Horse team on the Overland Trail
This p icture was created in between ca. 1900 and 1927.
Two Girls Waffle House
This picture was made in between ca. 1900 and 1916.
Yukon Gold Company Dawson , 1914
This is a picture of 23 men posed outside Yukon Gold Co. Dawson ,
1914. It was created in 1914.
Kodiak Alaska
It was made in between ca. 1900 and 1923.
Nome Alaska July 4th parade on Fr ont Street
You are looking at an artistic picture of July 4th parade on
Front Street in Nome Alaska . It was created in 1916.
Pancho Villa on Horseback
Josroteo Arango Arula (5 June 1878 20 July 1923), better
known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho
Villa, was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals.
New York City Fire Department
You are looking at picture of Firemen posed on fire engine,
New York City. It was taken in between ca. 1908 and 1916.
Titanic Survivors
Here`s a stunning image of Titanic survivors on way to
rescue ship Carpathia. It was take n in 1912.
Shoe Shine
This is a photo of Peddlers; shoe shine. Sept. 13, 1911. It
was made in 1911.
Teddy Roosevelt Speaking
This is an image of Teddy Roosevelt giving a fiery speech.
John Davison Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 - May 23, 1937)
was an American oi l magnate. Rockefeller revolutionized
the petroleum industry and defined the structure of modern
philanthropy
Rural Mail Delivery
This is a rare image of Rural Mail Delivery. It was taken in
1914 by Harris & Ewing.
Filling Car With Gas
It was taken between 1905 and 1945 by Harris & Ewing. (Yep, some of those
old gas pumps were in use to at least 1945 or maybe a little later in some cases)General Store
This is an original image of Old General Store. It was taken
1917 or 1918 by Harris & Ewing.
Slave Reunion
This is an important picture of Slaves Reunion . Le wis
Martin, Age 100; Martha Elizabeth Banks, Age 104;
Amy Ware, Age 103; Reverend S.P. Drew, Born Free.
I t was taken in 1917 by Harris & Ewing.
Lakota Sioux Camp
It was taken in 1891 by Grabill, John C. H., photographer.
Cowboy
The photo shows the traditional dress and gear of an authentic
old west cowboy. It was taken in 1888 by Grabill, John C. H.,
photographer.
Hotel Minnekahta, Hot Springs , Dakota Territory
It was created in 1889 by Grabill, John C. H., photographer.
Council of Indian Chiefs
Council of Indian Chiefs who Negotiated with General Miles
Birds-Eye View of Deadwood
The picture shows Section of small city showing residential
and commercial buildings; trees and mountains in
background. It was taken in 1887 by Grabill, John C. H.,
photographer.
Wright Brothers Glider in Flight
This is an extraordinary photo of Wright Brothers Glider in
Flight. It was made in 1911.
Pouring whiskey into a Sewer During Prohibition
It was made in between 1909 and 1932, during the Prohibition.
Moonshine Still
The photograph illustrates Lt. O.T. Davis, Sergt. J.D. McQuade,
George Fowler of Internal Revenue Service and H.G. Bauer with
the largest still ever taken in the national capitol. It was made in 1922.
Drug Store
This is an extraordinary photo of Aerial view of interior of
People's Drug Store, 7th and E Streets, Washington , D.C. ,
with soda fountain. It was made in 1909.
Newspaper Boy
Boy selling The Washington Daily News sign on his hat
reads, "Have you read The News? One cent, headline reads
Millionaire tax rends G.O.P. It was taken in 1921.
U.S. Navy Pilots
In this photo you can see navy pilots who will go to England for
the Schneider Cup races. It was made in 1923.
Man Drinking Beer during Prohibition
It was made in between 1920 and 1932.
Cadillac Dealership
This picture was made in 1927.
Ford's Theater
The photograph illustrates location where Abraham Lincoln
was shot in 1865, showing what the area looked like at the
time of the assassination.
U.S. Treasury
This is a photo of U.S. Treasury. Washington , D.C. Showing
old Riggs Hotel, 15th & G. N.W. It was made between 1860
and 1865.
Abraham Lincoln on the Antietam Battlefield
The picture a bove was taken on October 3, 1862. Lincoln is
shown standing on the Battlefield of Antietam . The following
day, October 4, 1862 his Emancipation Proclamation appeared
for the first time on the pages of Harper's Weekly, the most
widely distributed newspaper of the day.
Taxicab strike in New York
The image shows Taxicab strike New York in 1928.
Cincinnati Street Cars
This photo was made in 1913.
Jack Barrett with Barnum Circus
Photo shows Jack W.C. Barnett (right) who was a performer
with the Barnum and Bailey circus. The photo was taken
between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915.
Santa Claus and Children
This is a photo of Santa Claus and Children on the streets
of New York City circa 1900.
British boxers
Photo shows British boxers including Rueben Charles, Rube
Warnes (1875-1961), W.W. Allen, R. Erskine, A. Spenceley, F.
Parks with E.T. Calver, secretary of the Amateur Boxing
Association. This photo was taken between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915.
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