CBI Blogs

One of my favorite things to do each day is take my dog, Frank for walks around our neighborhood. I am fortunate to live in a place with many people who take great care of their lawns, so over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed many plants and flowers beginning to blossom and bloom. And, with the joyous celebration of Purim, I know that spring is definitely in the air!

Purim has always been a favorite holiday of mine. I love that we are obligated to have fun! To eat delicious cookies (poppy seed, of course). To wear costumes. And, to enjoy that the world is Hafooch, inside out and upside down.

It doesn’t feel like that much of a stretch these days to view our world in such a manner. We have all felt Hafooch for the last 2 years. The recent situation in Ukraine adds to our worry and deep concern. It’s hard to imagine celebrating anything with joy at this time.

And yet, we came together as a community to eat hot dogs and hamantaschen, to boo Haman’s name, to sing, dance, and laugh, and to just be in our space. And it made me feel a bit Hafooch! Seeing our congregation together again after spending so much time apart was overwhelming in the best sense. It was wonderful, joyful, and exactly what Purim is all about. 

With Purim now in our review mirror, we turn to Passover, another time of celebration and fresh, new beginnings. As we tell the tale of our ancestors, we include many items on our seder plate that represent spring and its ability to overcome even the harshest, most difficult moments in life.

Spring is all about resilience. After intense winter freezes, it’s awesome to see masses of green grass, flowers budding, and more. The holidays we celebrate during spring remind us that we are a resilient people. When Pharaoh, Haman, or some other foe tried to bring our people down, we persisted, survived, and thrived.

Today, we do the same. We will continue to be strong, to face adversity, and find joy in every moment. Spring reminds us about the resiliency of nature; Purim and Passover about the resiliency of the Jewish people. During this season of resiliency, may we all see the beauty of nature, the beauty of our people, and find gratitude for all the blessings in our lives.