JOY OF THE SUBLIME AND 'RIDICULOUS'

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Chana Lieba on her upcoming birthday. Wishing you a year of many simchos.

Mazal Tov to Mariasha who has a birthday coming up tonight. Enjoy!

I also want to welcome my cousin Brian to our weekly email.

It is so interesting how life develops. We used to be such good friends in SA playing football together, and then we landed up on different sides of the world without seeing each other for many years. And now Brian is neighbours to Penina and Avi in The Valley bringing about our reconnection BH! So happy to be in touch again and similarly with Renee and Roy.

There is a kind of paradox running through Purim.

On the one hand it reflects our ongoing battle with Amalek, and on the other hand we celebrate with much open joy to the point of even dressing up in what appears to be 'ridiculous'.

These must surely be connected.

I am learning a Maamer from the Alte Rebbe on Purim which discussed our ongoing battle with Amalek.

There was an interesting point of an explanation of Rashi on the posuk 'He said (Moshe)- The hand is on G-d's throne. Hashem will be at war with Amalek for all generations.' (Last posuk in Beshalach - Sefer Shmos)

Rashi notices in the posuk that the alef is missing from the word kisei (Throne), and that the name of Hashem is also only written with 2 of its 4 letters!

Rashi therefore comments that Hashem swore that His Name will not be whole, and nor will his Throne be whole until the name of Amalek is totally obliterated.

This should be speedily in our days

I am attaching some music videos to contribute to the celebrations!

<http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=44560&hl=purim+music>; http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=44560&hl=purim+music

<http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=35343&hl=music+video>; http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=35343&hl=music+video

Gut Shabbos and a a Happy 'Ridiculous' Purim to all.