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04 March 2020
By Avi West, Federation’s Senior Education Officer and Master Teacher
As Purim approaches, many of us look forward to the costumes, the carnivals, and “scrolling” through the Book of Esther with noisemakers at the ready. But the essential message of Purim is more relevant now than ever: the Jewish people were saved by the strength of the community and the leaders within.
As Mordechai cautioned Esther, when you are called upon to help your community, reflect that, “perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.”
Purim is known as, “a day of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and the poor.”
This Purim, join us in responding to the needs of our neighbors – translating these lessons of our 3,500 year old tradition into an opportunity to build and strengthen our Jewish community.
In Greater Washington, more than 5,000 Jewish households are living in or near poverty.* You can help ensure that they don’t need to make the difficult choice between essentials like food and medicine for their families.
Give today to The Jewish Federation’s Purim Fund to make a difference for those in need.
Through our partnership with local Jewish human service organizations, 100% of your gift will go directly to Jewish community members living in poverty.
When we step up to lead courageously, we can blot out the memory of “he who shall not be named without noise,” and build a community that is a force for good in the world. Together, we can make this Purim a joyous one for every member of our community.
Wishing you a joyous Purim!
Avi West
*Data from The 2017 Greater Washington, DC Jewish Community Demographic Study, funded by The Morningstar Foundation