In addition to this week’s Parsha, Tetzaveh, today is Shabbat Zachor: the Shabbat that precedes Purim. On this occasion, the Torah recounts in great detail what the Kohen Gadol’s clothing was like.

You may wonder… What can this bring to my life as a Jew today?

The observation we can make is the following: during normal days the Kohanim dressed in garments designed with gold, expensive fabrics and precious stones. They looked imposing, adorned. But on the holiest day of the year, on Yom Kippur, they wore their most humble tunic, without precious stones, without the work of artisans, without anything.

In our life it is the other way around, we usually wear our best clothes only when we have a special event, such as a wedding or a gala.

There are several explanations for why this was so. Rabbi Levi says that the reason for this linen garment on Yom Kippur was to neutralize the ego of the High Priest. This is what is written in Mishlei (25, 6): “Do not glorify yourself in the presence of the king.” Because on this very important day only that priest would pronounce the name of God and atone for the souls of all his people. This person required a lot of preparation, to serve with humility and not be dominated by his ego.

And this is where we find the link with the story of Purim. Haman became the right hand of King Ajashveirosh and he did not tolerate a single head raised when he passed by. Everyone had to bow before him and pay homage to him. This need to be praised, the need to control everything, the fact of feeling superior to others, was what ended up ending his life and that of his family.

Even though we celebrate with costumes and games, the story of Purim is sad!

Perhaps it is good to remind ourselves each morning before we get dressed to begin our routine, that the best clothing we can wear is the presence of God in our lives. Adapting this to each one’s personal belief, it could be understood as the act of dressing ourselves with integrity, dressing ourselves with the understanding that we are just passing through this world. Putting on the best smile we can, buttoning up our goodness and humility, warming our hearts and tying tightly the laces that keep us glued to the ground so that we understand that we are not higher than anyone else.

Shabbat Zachor is the Shabbat of the memory of our history. We remember the attack of Amalek in the reading of the Torah. We remember everything we have gone through as a people to get to this day.

Esther dressed daily in the best royal clothes. But she never went about believing herself to be better than the rest, she carried humility in her heart. She risked her life so that we could keep ours.

For all the heroes of the past, and for the everyday heroes, for the leaders who seek peace, for the defenders of our identity, next week we will celebrate. With our hearts still in suspense demanding for the release of the hostages in Israel; with all the challenges that modernity brings to the Jews of the present; we will raise our glass, we will read the megillah, and we will make our children have fun and play.

Because once there was an Amalek, a Pharaoh, Haman, Hamas… But there is always also Torah, there is life, there is culture, there are values, there is beauty and tenderness, there is much to improve in this world! And as Jews that is and will always be our mission, Letaken Olam, we work for a better future for the generations to come. 

We hope to see you celebrating with us next Sunday at 10am!

Shabbat shalom!