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The Foolish Bird and the Eternal People: Understanding Haman’s Failed Strategy
Manage episode 470017812 series 2662143
The Midrash compares Haman’s plot against the Jews to a foolish bird attempting to drain the sea, beakful by beakful. At first glance, this fable highlights the impossibility of eradicating the Jewish people. But upon deeper examination, it reveals the secret of Jewish survival, the core reason for antisemitism, and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish soul and Torah. Haman’s mistake was in thinking that severing Jews from Torah would make them vulnerable to destruction—yet, as history has shown, even when Jews have drifted from their spiritual roots, their intrinsic connection to G-d and Torah remains. This class explores why the Jewish people have endured against all odds and what this means for our own Jewish identity today.
Key Takeaways:
- The Midrash’s Metaphor – Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jews was as foolish as a bird trying to empty an ocean. But why? This metaphor reveals deeper truths about Jewish resilience.
- The Secret of Antisemitism – Haman, like many persecutors throughout history, saw Jewish existence as a threat. Why have so many tyrants sought to destroy the Jewish people?
- The Relationship Between Jews and Torah – The Torah is to Jews what water is to fish. Even when Jews drift, they cannot fully detach from their Divine essence.
- G-d’s ‘Unsuccessful’ Plan – The Midrash states that even G-d could not destroy the Jewish people. What does this mean, and what does it teach us about the Jewish soul?
- Haman’s ‘Final Solution’ – His real plan wasn’t just genocide—it was to dry up the Jewish connection to Torah and assimilate them into Persian society. This strategy failed, just as all others have throughout history.
- The Eternal Bond – The Jews have outlived every empire that sought their destruction, proving that their essence is eternal.
- A Call to Jewish Unity – If a Jew was Jewish enough for Hitler to send to the gas chambers, he is Jewish enough for us to love and embrace. Jewish survival is not just a historical fact—it is a personal responsibility.
#Purim #Jewish #Antisemitism #Judaism #Faith #Rabbi #chabad #Jewishsurvival #Torah #BookofEsther #Megillah
While Hollywood may offer drama the real story more profound. A shepherd boy who became a king, a warrior who wrote Psalms, and a flawed soul who never stopped seeking G-d.
RSVP HERE https://ndg.chabadsuite.net/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=77
Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.com
Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.
Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate
Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath
Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi
186 episodes
Manage episode 470017812 series 2662143
The Midrash compares Haman’s plot against the Jews to a foolish bird attempting to drain the sea, beakful by beakful. At first glance, this fable highlights the impossibility of eradicating the Jewish people. But upon deeper examination, it reveals the secret of Jewish survival, the core reason for antisemitism, and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish soul and Torah. Haman’s mistake was in thinking that severing Jews from Torah would make them vulnerable to destruction—yet, as history has shown, even when Jews have drifted from their spiritual roots, their intrinsic connection to G-d and Torah remains. This class explores why the Jewish people have endured against all odds and what this means for our own Jewish identity today.
Key Takeaways:
- The Midrash’s Metaphor – Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jews was as foolish as a bird trying to empty an ocean. But why? This metaphor reveals deeper truths about Jewish resilience.
- The Secret of Antisemitism – Haman, like many persecutors throughout history, saw Jewish existence as a threat. Why have so many tyrants sought to destroy the Jewish people?
- The Relationship Between Jews and Torah – The Torah is to Jews what water is to fish. Even when Jews drift, they cannot fully detach from their Divine essence.
- G-d’s ‘Unsuccessful’ Plan – The Midrash states that even G-d could not destroy the Jewish people. What does this mean, and what does it teach us about the Jewish soul?
- Haman’s ‘Final Solution’ – His real plan wasn’t just genocide—it was to dry up the Jewish connection to Torah and assimilate them into Persian society. This strategy failed, just as all others have throughout history.
- The Eternal Bond – The Jews have outlived every empire that sought their destruction, proving that their essence is eternal.
- A Call to Jewish Unity – If a Jew was Jewish enough for Hitler to send to the gas chambers, he is Jewish enough for us to love and embrace. Jewish survival is not just a historical fact—it is a personal responsibility.
#Purim #Jewish #Antisemitism #Judaism #Faith #Rabbi #chabad #Jewishsurvival #Torah #BookofEsther #Megillah
While Hollywood may offer drama the real story more profound. A shepherd boy who became a king, a warrior who wrote Psalms, and a flawed soul who never stopped seeking G-d.
RSVP HERE https://ndg.chabadsuite.net/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=77
Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.com
Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.
Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate
Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath
Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi
186 episodes
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