Purim
Posted on 27 November 2012 by Elze Erwteman

Purim by Elze Erwteman Purim is the most joyful feast in the Bible. It is celebrated by Jews all over the world. The book of Esther in the Bible is only added after four hundred years had passed since King Ahasveros and Queen Esther were living and this incredible event happened. Because the Jewish people loved this celebration so very much and kept celebrating it year after year the story was told over and over. Because of this, the rabbi’s decided that this feast needed to be part of the Tenach, the Bible. It is a heartwarming story about things that truly happened. Again we see the salvation of Israel by God in a very spectacular way. This happening tickles our fantasy and it shows us how a small minority people-group, the Jews, is being saved out of a very dangerous situation. The reason, that this story is loved so much has probably to do with the fact, that the evil person Haman who wanted the Jews to be destroyed is punished very severely. This encourages us in our faith that wickedness is being punished and that God ultimately will destroy all the enemies of Israel. When we celebrate Purim we have special pastry: Haman-taschen and Hamans-ears. Enemies, like Haman was, keep us alert. In our days we see the ugly anti-semitism beast growing in this world in a very fast tempo. We understand from the Scriptures that Israel has a war against Amalek till this cruel enemy is defeated. (Deut.25:19) May be in this light we can see the continuing struggle that Israel has for her survival. In Habbakuk 3:13 it says: “Thou didst go forth for the salvation of Thy people, for the salvation of Thine anointed. Thou didst strike the head of the house of the evil. To lay him open from tigh to neck.” It means that the evil house of satan is going to be completely defeated in the future and everything will be revealed that is part of this ugly evil house. It is a vision that Habbakuk had for the end of days and it looks that we are arriving in this time of ugliness more and more. The pastry: ‘Hamans-ears’ are a pastry for Purim and they also remind us that the enemy of Israel listened to voices from the house of satan, but Haman was defeated and this is our hope for the future that the Lord will defeat his enemies and Israel has to fight these enemies with the help of haShem. Let us be alert and stay close to the God of all Creation the God of Israel, Elohiem Adonai, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Let us be cleansed through prayer and immersion. The shed blood of Messiah Yeshua is our sacrifice. Let us have oil in our lamps as a picture of our relationship with Adonai so that salvation will be our share in the world to come. Like in the days of Ahasveros and Queen Esther and Mordechai, when the criminal Haman was defeated and Israel saved. The Keeper of Israel slumbers nor sleeps! Chag sameach! Happy Purim! For a recipe of this pastry view the category "kosher recipes".