Queen Esther: Where Are You?, Part 2

This article continues from Part 1. 

Queen Esther Today 

This spiritual work has the energetic capability of changing the scenario for all time for the good. Petitions, letters, protests, marches, and aggressive responses are limited in their scope. The Jewish nation can effectively fight evil only with light. Israel, being the heart of the world, and the other countries being the body, is currently bleeding. All eyes are on her, and the world looks on. Hatred bubbles up from the darkness, the antidote being love—-love for ourselves, for who we were created to be, for our supra-rational connection to   G-d, for our brothers and sisters all over the world. When we learn to love ourselves, do for ourselves that which provides healing and when we follow G-d’s laws we heal not only ourselves but the world. It begins with each individual. Hashem will do miracles if we rise above our nature and do that which is miraculous in His eyes. He, after all, is our shadow. He takes notice when we include Him. 

Instead of the buzzwords being only bitachon (trust), emunah, and achdut (unity), which are amazing and must not ever be diminished, what about teshuvah? As clearly stated in Psalm 8l, Hashem wants His Jewish children to lead humanity to return to Him. When inspiration does not ultimately result in transformation, then it becomes only a lost opportunity for growth. Unfortunately, the unity of the secular and the observant is based primarily on a foundation of challenges. When the challenge subsides so, too, does the unity. Therefore, what are we waiting for? Too many people think Jewish pride means the modern expression of marching with flags and being visible. This is not the Jewish way. Pride that is not exhibited spiritually by going inward to develop a relationship with Hashem is misconceived. How do I know? I have stories (many of them)—stemming from the personal spiritual experience I had on September 26, 2009—in which Hashem literally took me and my family on a journey of return as we were all tinok shenishba, but no longer Baruch Hashem. Ignorance does not lead to bliss. 

Throughout history Hashem has wanted us, when faced with a challenging situation, to move forward and trust that salvation will follow as long as we do our spiritual work down here. Our power as a people is solely by demonstrating our spiritual connection to the Almighty. It is incumbent upon us to internalize this fact and act upon it. Chazal reminds us that if we are seriously looking to G-d for His support, it would stand to reason that we show our gratitude by supporting His laws and wishes, praying, and committing to Him spiritually on our level so that our spiritual effort gives strength to the physical effort that we make to win the war of good over evil. 

G-d determines the outcome of any effort, so wouldn’t Prime Minister Netanyahu be best served if he would take a major stance, a huge turn-around, and stand proud to rally the Jewish people in Israel and around the globe to do teshuvah immediately, start speaking to G-d, start learning, and focus upon developing a close relationship with the Almighty? As with any human parent, Hashem loves His children more than we can ever imagine. He desires that we be close to Him and that we encourage all humanity to know Him. 

Currently, the honorable leader of Israel is primarily addressing the “sticks” in Hashem’s hand—the agents Hashem chooses to carry out His will— and not making a plea for his people to show support, connection, and love for the true King Himself. It’s like saying that Queen Esther should have approached King Achashverosh before she worked with the Jewish people to do teshuvah and strengthen their commitment to authentic Torah Judaism. She needed to fortify herself by means of the commitment of other Jewish souls to Hashem before she physically took it upon herself to talk to the ruler of Persia. Without her spiritual work, she could not feel confident that she would be successful in saving the Jewish people. Not doing the spiritual work would not have made much sense then, and it makes no sense now. 

When even more of us (and especially those far from Him currently) cement ourselves to the Creator with sincerity and authenticity, work on our character traits, and commit to spiritual practice and growth it is then that the likelihood of change happening in a more palatable manner will increase.         

Antisemitism is the barometer Hashem uses to demonstrate to us how as a people we are doing. A little effort can yield major strides. As it is said, “Open for Me the eye of a needle, and I will open for you a banquet hall.” (Shir Hashirim Rabba 5:3) Haman reappears in his many incarnations, as a dictator, as a terrorist, as false ideology, as a proponent of war, or even as the cold apathy that causes our heart to chill and our spiritual work to subside. 

We can all help by moving from a life of survival and over-emphasis on materialism to a life of balance, spiritual awareness, and meaning. In this way we demonstrate love for ourselves, our community of Jewish brothers and sisters, and G-d by way of commitment, responsibility, and support. G-d must sense our love for Him and our realization that He does everything for the very best. He is the Creator of the world. He always did, does, and will do that which is necessary for the Jewish people to wake up.  When we become aware that the world was created to follow G-d’s ordinances and crown Him King, each of us will be doing our part to save precious lives. When we save one life, we save a whole world. We must begin immediately. Waiting for miracles is not an option. Neither is piecemeal participation. Without a massive global Jewish initiative of teshuvah (each on our own level) whereby there is heartfelt arousal from below, we have no right, at this point in history, to expect unearned miracles from above.  

The answer to the insanity is that there is no answer. Only when we turn to Hashem and admit (literally cry out) that we are powerless without Him will we see salvation. There is no other brilliant solution to the challenges we face. When the situation becomes desperate, we have only one recourse. We’ve waited long enough to realize this truth. Let us call out to Hashem and tell Him we love Him, trust in His love for us, know that He is only interested that we do what is right and responsible and that we return His love by doing what He expects of us. Read Psalm 81 and feel the intensity of what Hashem is asking of us.  Do it now for the sake of all our people—-of our families, our children, our grandchildren, and our future. Grab hold of the baton and metaphorically carry it forward. We must do this with a full and open heart and mean every word through our tears, not of sadness or depression but of return and contrition for forgetting about Him. As we better ourselves by working to eliminate negative traits such as anger, jealousy, frustration, judgment of others, guilt, impatience, and despair, we become more “becoming” as a nation. We gain favor in Hashem’s eyes.  

When we confess that we lost sight of the bigger picture, that we did not think of Hashem or ask for His help often enough, and that when we did pray, we often did so by rote or with our minds in many different places, we bring much-needed light into the world. We must humble ourselves, express gratitude for what G-d has been gracious enough to give us and communicate with Him daily. He loves us way too much to ever reject a sincere desire to return to Him and His Torah. It is our ratzon (will), kavanah (sincere intention), authenticity, desire, hope, faith, trust, love, spiritual awareness, commitment to growth, and longing for fundamental unity that will encourage the light of Geula (Redemption). 

May we see positive changes and evidence that more of our Jewish brothers and sisters shift from being Jewish in their hearts to genuine connection (kesher) and growth in learning and practicing Judaism the Torah way–the way Hashem desires. In this way we will contribute to winning the war of good over evil—may it be expedient and merciful. As we recognize, connect to, and thank Hashem in every continent, in every country, in every city, in every small town, in every community and become better rather than bitter, the basis for our achdus (unity) becomes not the challenge but rather our connection to Hashem and His Torah. This is unity within diversity. May the women of this generation embrace the energy of Queen Esther and encourage our families to engage in this transformative process now before Purim.   Amein v’Amein   Am Yisrael Chai!! 

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Lori is an educator and life optimization coach. Her book entitled Living in Happiness: The Call to Return is available on BookBaby Bookshop currently with a 20% discount for our readers, when applying the code UNITY20.