Towards the end of the Purim story we read (Esther 8:17), “And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's order and his edict reached, [there was] joy and gladness for the Jews, a feast and a festive day, and many of the peoples of the land became Jews because the fear of the Jews was upon them.”
A simple reading of this passage indicates that many gentiles in the Persian Empire adopted Judaism because they were afraid of the Jews. This doesn’t seem like a compelling case for sincere conversion. Doing something out of fear of someone else is not a recipe for long-term sustainability. So why is this celebrated in the Megillah as a positive effect of the Jewish salvation from Haman’s decree?
The Rebbe offers an alternative interpretation that changes the entire dynamic. “Fear of the Jews” is not to be understood as being afraid of the Jews. Rather, “Fear of the Jews” is the mindset of the Jewish people, meaning the Jews being in “awe of Hashem.” So now when we read “many of the peoples of the land became Jews because the fear of the Jews was upon them,” we understand this in terms of a spiritual and moral influence resulting from “the peoples of the land” observing the “G-d fearing” life of the Jewish people.
When a Jew models a life of honesty and integrity, with proper priorities in place, a harmonious family life, a caring for others, and a demonstrably meaningful relationship with Hashem, this is the loudest and most powerful influence that he or she can have on their environment. The late Chief Rabbi of the UK, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, put it succinctly, “Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism.” When we live a proudly G-d fearing life, the impact on the “peoples of the land” is immense.
Now more than ever, we need to be mindful of this powerful ability to influence the perspectives and behaviors of those around us. Be a Jewish influencer!
We lost a dear friend of our family and Chabad of Louisiana. Lee Rittvo, formerly of New Orleans, passed away suddenly yesterday. We are heartbroken for her husband Steve, their children Ariel and David, and their families. Lee was a vibrant person, a feisty woman with strong views. She was a passionate Jew, and a highly artistic individual. Though they moved to Colorado after Hurricane Katrina, they remined involved and committed to New Orleans and our Jewish community.
Lee, along with Steve, may he live and be well, were the force behind the beautiful Mikvah at Chabad in New Orleans. The RINGGER Center for Jewish Women’s Enrichment was named for the family matriarchs who influenced their lives. Lee’s vision and execution of the beautiful mikvah is an everlasting treasure for women, locals and tourists alike, and a real foundation of the New Orleans Jewish community.
When Lee’s daughter-in-law used the Mikvah before her wedding, Lee was ecstatic. A young woman, who used to drive to New Orleans from the Florida panhandle shared, that she loved coming to this beautiful Mikvah and it was the highlight of her month. There is no question that Lee’s soul will be greeted in heaven by the multitude of angels, created by each woman’s use of the Mikvah over the past 15 years.
May G-d grant strength to Steve, Ariel, David, and their families as they confront this shattering loss. May the Al-mighty comfort them among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem; and bless them “that only goodness and kindness pursue them all the days of their lives.”
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin