Rabbi Howard Morrison

Often, rabbinic literature tries to fill in missing gaps of a Biblical text. In less than three weeks, we will celebrate Purim. When Esther finds herself in the Persian palace for the first time, the Biblical text is silent about what she might have been feeling or saying. In a Midrashic collection called Esther Rabbah, the Sages envision the following:

"Esther was very scared . . . she took off the clothing of her royalty and splendor and wore sackcloth, and she uncovered the hair of her head and covered it with dust and ashes, and she afflicted herself with fasting. And she fell on her face in front of the Lord and said: 'Lord, God of Israel, who has ruled from the days of yore and created the world, please help your maidservant, as I was orphaned without father or mother and am comparable to a poor woman who goes to beg from house to house. So do I beg Your mercy, from window to window in the house of Achashverosh. And now Lord, please give success to Your maidservant, this poor woman, and the flock of Your shepherding from these enemies that have risen against us, as You have no impediment from saving with the many or with the few. And You, O Father of orphans, please stand to the right of this orphan who trusted in your kindness, and give me mercy in front of this man, as I feared him, and bring him low in front of me, as You bring the proud ones low."

Other Midrashim envision different prayers coming from Esther. This one in particular, however, touches me as we try to envision what several Jewish communities in the Ukraine are praying on this Shabbat; what Ukrainians around their country are praying at this moment. I can imagine everyone of them being scared, feeling orphaned in some way, begging for God's mercy, protection from the enemies, bringing the evil dictator low to the ground.

I share with you a prayer composed this week by the Masorti Movement and the Rabbinical Assembly for the welfare of Ukraine:

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Howard Morrison