Wednesday, March 24, 2027

The battles fought between the Jews and their enemies, which took place on Adar 13 throughout the Persian empire (see "Today in Jewish History" for that date), continued for two days -- Adar 13 and 14 -- in the capital city of Shushan, where there were a greater number of Jew haters. Thus the victory celebrations in Shushan were held on the 15th of Adar, and the observance of the festival of Purim was instituted for that day in Shushan and all walled cities. (See Laws and Customs below).

On this date, in the year following the Holy Temple’s destruction, G‑d tells Ezekiel to take up a lamentation for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and for the Jewish nation’s other enemies, foretelling their ultimate downfall.

Read the prophecy here: Ezekiel ch. 32

In cities that are surrounded by a wall dating from the days of Joshua (13th century BCE) -- a prominent example is the city of Jerusalem -- the festival of Purim is observed on the 15th of Adar (instead of the 14th), in commemoration of the fact that in the ancient walled city of Shushan, the first Purim was celebrated on this day (see "Today in Jewish History").

All over the world, Tachanun is omitted due to the special joy of the day.

(For an overview of the Purim observances and links to more information, see "Laws and Customs" for Adar 14.)

The world is a place of constant change and unrest.

Each point in time is distinct from the point before and the point after.

Each point in space is its own world, with its own conditions and state of being.

It is a world of fragments, a perpetual rush of traffic and noise.

Look at your own life: You do so many different things, one after the other without any apparent connection between them.

Inner peace is when every part of you and every facet of your day is moving in the same direction.

When you serve one G-d, have one purpose, and all you do orbits around the meaning you have found in life.

When you have purpose, you have peace.