Taanit Esther

I'm reposting an updated version of an old article I wrote about Taanit Esther, which is tomorrow:

In the fourth chapter of Megilat Esther, Mordechai finds out about the terrible plight that has befallen the Jews of the Persian Empire. He sends a messenger to Esther to tell her to go and speak to the king on behalf of her people. Esther replies that she cannot go, since the king has not called her in 30 days, and anyone who approaches the king without being called gets killed. Mordechai responds forcefully, warning Esther not to think that she will escape any more than any other Jews. He tells her that if she does not act, then deliverance will come anyway, from another source, but she and her family will be destroyed. Esther accepts this rebuke, and declares a fast of three days, after which she will approach the king, even though this means risking her life.

Am Yisrael once again finds itself in a very difficult time. Our existence is again threatened in our home land. But we've been afraid to approach the King, perhaps because we haven't heard Him calling us. But God is always waiting for us to pray to him and ask for His help. Just as Mordechai told Esther, we know that the geula will eventually come to Israel. But we, and our generation, may not be the ones to see it if we don't act.

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 4th, is Taanit Esther, the fast which commemorates Esther's fast before approching the king. We normally commemorate the fast on 13 Adar, though this year 13 Adar is on Shabbat, so we fast on Thursday. The 13th day of Adar has the great potential for redemption. It was on this day that the Megila states (9:1), "Bayom asher sibru oy'vei hayihudim l'shlot bahem, venahafoch hu hayihudim heima b'soneihem." On the day (the 13th day of Adar) that the enemies of the Jews hoped to rule over them, it was flipped around, and the Jews came to have control over those who hated them.

Kumah strongly urges everyone to fast this year on Taanit Esther. The fast begins Thursday morning, before sunrise, and ends at night after maariv. Purim is often compared to Yom Kippur, so to borrow a phrase from the Yamim Noraim, please make this Taanit Esther a day of "teshuva, tefilla, u'tzedaka" - repentance, prayer, and charity. And with God's help, next Adar we will bring the mahatzit hashekel to the Beit Hamikdash in a peaceful and vibrant Yerushalayim.