Purim Destiny

by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

You may not be headed where you think you're going.

Published: February 21, 2010
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Visitor Comments: 9

(9) keren, February 26, 2010 9:07 AM

thank you

thabk you for the positive drive all year round!!! i wish you and all am israeli happy purim

(8) lori, February 25, 2010 1:36 AM

Living a dream.

I have had dreams in another language, I could not understand...I only speak English. It was so vivid and profound, I woke with such a sweat and wondered how could this be? It litterally drove me! I learned it was Hebrew. I looked all over for answers and definitions to the Hebrew words. After about a year of grulling research, a lot of dead ends and u-turns I have found open doors! I learned some answers through a Rabbi here in Idaho in the USA, which ultimately prepared me for the interpretation of my dreams. Now, I am in college at 41 taking study on Ezekiel, and have also made Kosher pickles with the Rabbi(s)! It is so wonderful to see what God can do in people. The relationship with Him is so rewarding, and at times shocking that God can do so much through little ol' you. Sticking to it is the trick and not giving up, till it all pays off. It is true all things are possible through Him who strengthens you, great words from a great Rabbi. Seek and yee shall find, knock and the door shall be opened. A word of advice....Seek only the "GOOD" things in life, they are the most rewarding. I Never have heard hebrew until... God showed me "I needed to hear it." One last thing...For me there are alot more than four figures who should be celebrated in Purim. I like, Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. No matter the "struggle! You too can do this! Truly a remnant. Thank you for the video Rabbi, that was for me. It really made me understand the "the real reason" for the celebration. I am learning more about the Jewish community, through God and the desire He gave me to learn it. Have a happy Purim.

(7) Melanie Straus, February 24, 2010 3:00 AM

Novice filmmaker produces a movie from 'out of the blue'

I had written a screenplay based on a true story about an old Gentile recluse who helps a young Jewish housewife build up her confidence. Nobody wanted to bother with this no-name script, so I became a film producer and made this movie from scratch. It took me 10 years to bring BLUEPRINT to the screen, and it is now showing on the Sundance Channel in Europe! If you want something badly enough, you will find a way, and the way will find you. With faith, anything is possible, even for a housewife!

(6) ruth housman, February 24, 2010 1:12 AM

hats off to you!

I think you look quite debonair in that hat, and a little Fred Astaire number would fit quite nicely. My life has taken some truly "weird" turns, and I can say, it's hard to believe in what has happened. So I write my heart out because it's consequent to a Vow I made with God that I could prove, on paper, by way of a life, if gifted more astonishment of story, as in coincidence, that a prime mover does exist. Now maybe it's a question of be careful what you ask for, but I have been experiencing massive astonishment via connects of story that cannot be random, and I have kept that Vow, now ongoing daily for more than eleven years. In addition words deconstruct for me, across languages, and I am seeing something very deep, and often, as often as I can, I use this gift in making commentaries on line and in writing and in all the classes I give and take. YES, this symphony has a conductor. There is a hidden face of God and there is a most visible face, and God too, has many masks and I do believe the story of Purim can be read on many, many levels. And so this season is for JOY, for having fun, and for taking risks, for exploring the who and the what of what we might become, because a butterfly is emergent, by entering many stages, and so it is, for us all. The metaphoric connects that do dominate and echo through our lives are profound and beautiful. Rejoice!

(5) Angela, February 23, 2010 10:35 PM

Awesome Message!

We may not end up where we intended, or even want to be, but G-d can use us wherever we are. Thanks for the reminder, Rabbi.

(4) yehudit Channen, February 23, 2010 9:31 PM

super word-great delivery

I can attest to the fact that if I had been told at the age of twenty that I would be married to a Rabbi and have nine kids, twelve grandkids (more on the way) live in Israel as a social worker and occasional editor for Aish HaTorah (whatever that was)--I would have laughed aloud. My life is a miracle and I still can't get over it! Thanks for a great word! Happy Purim!

(3) Beverly Kurtin, February 21, 2010 9:21 PM

Practical Joke

As a semi-frequent patient at a local hospital (coronary artery disease) I enjoy bringing some "toys" with me to amuse the staff. Usually it is a pair of Groucho Marx glasses with moustache, and a large, bright red clown's nose. It gives the staff a brief break from their horrendous duties, I mean the term "serious as a heart attack" is something with which they deal on a daily basis. The last time I was there and after my femoral artery had healed (only had one stent that time!) I went from room to room handing out clown noses with the instructions to put them on when a nurse or tech came into the room. You could hear the laughter trickle up and down the hall as patients showed off their new noses to staff. Laughter really IS the best medicine. A "normal" three day stay for me has been reduced to two, probably because they want me OUT faster? My favorite fun thing is to wait for the gal or guy who takes blood in the middle of the night. I let them take the blood they need and when they have all of the test tubes on a solid surface, I put on a nose and ask the person, "Is this normal?" I always get a small scream out of them, but as many have told me, it brightens up their lonely evening rounds. So, Rabbi, I don't just wait for Purim to do fun things. I have chronic coronary and carotid artery disease plus spinal arthritis but it doesn't mean that I have to be Oscar the Grouch!

(2) Mike, February 21, 2010 7:04 PM

mmmmm

great message. funky hair.

(1) Rosen, February 21, 2010 1:27 PM

career contrasts

I was just thinking about the contrasts in my career, so it is great that intelligent minds often think alike. Over the course of my career, I worked as a groundskeeper at a couple of shopping centers cleaning up the grounds of the store fronts and parking lots. A couple years after that I was an intern and visitor use assistant for the US Park Police directing traffic in and out of park events and performances. When I worked for the USPP, I didn't think I had so much respect from my coworkers and park patrons (even if they were joking, esp. my coworkers - the actual Park Police I worked with/under). So, contrasting that to my current career at 2 different county parks I work at, I feel I receive a lot more respect when it comes to greeting and assisting visitors. One park I work at is a big, wheelchair accessible park, and the other is at a historic house that serves tea during scheduled tea programs at a botanical gardens park. On the whole, I can be (slightly) more grateful for the respect I can get on the job than receiving a paycheck. Indeed, there has been a lot of change and contrast in my career for more than a decade of the places I've worked. And, I'm hoping my the next job in my career will be even more meaningful and secure such as working for the federal government (assuming Obama's stimulus for more job creation will pay off) or possibly something to do with Judaism somewhere down the road in the future.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

More by this Author >

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.