Each year, my wife Melanie comes up with a relevant Purim theme from Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther), writes a thematic Purim poem, and distributes her poem with her mishloach manot (portions of food to friends). In recent years, Melanie has also sent out her poem via e-mail to a small number of people. This year, for the first time ever, we're also going social!
This year's theme is, "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!"
The poem is below. A PDF version of just the poem can also be viewed and downloaded directly from http://bit.ly/LevinePurimPoem5775.
May it be in our merit that the Holy One, Blessed be He, be a salvation for the Jewish people today, as He has been in days gone by, from all the evil Haman's who persist in their vain and misguided attempts to destroy us.
Enjoy!
--Brian & Melanie
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!
Purim 5775
The events that led up to the Purim strife
had been brewing for a while, as often happens in life.
Going to the party, becoming dispersed and scattered
we lost sight of what truly mattered:
Maintaining our relationship with our Father above
and living a life of Torah with love.
Haman, therefore, accused the Jews of sleeping,
meaning we were lax ‒ mitzvos we were not keeping!
What would it take to rouse us from our slumber?
HaShem, in His infinite wisdom, as always, “had our number.”
Bring an enemy to threaten our lives, of course;
this would surely lead us to unite and feel remorse.
Then ultimately we would recommit to Torah and hold it dear,
with our own free will, fulfilling our words: We will do and we will hear!
HaShem, with Purim, brought us to the brink.
May we need no more wake up calls to stir us to think!
Thus, everything in this Coffee Cup
Reminds us to Wake Up! Wake Up!
Purim opens our eyes to what is real:
HaShem runs our world ‒ let's live a Torah life with zeal!
Learn even from King A!
Concerned about a kindness he did not repay,
he could not sleep until he gave credit which was due.
How much more so should we have Hakaras HaTov too!
Purim is the perfect occasion
to give thanks to HaShem for His salvation.
An “attitude of gratitude” – recognizing the good in every situation
transforms us as individuals, and sets us apart as a nation.
And when we turn our hearts towards HaShem sincerely,
He brings us close, which the Midrash points out clearly:
It was really HaShem's “sleep” which was shaken‒
a merciful response did our cries in Him awaken!
And so dear friends, our bracha is that you know how much HaShem loves you,
and that our King never slumbers or sleeps—He protects you in all that you do.
And remember, we are in HaShem's employ--
Let us not “fall asleep on the job” of serving HaShem with joy!
Have a Freilichen Purim!
Masha (Melanie) and Baruch (Brian) Levine
Masha (Melanie) and Baruch (Brian) Levine
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