George Washington Carver (1864–1943) overcame terrible racial prejudice to establish himself as a renowned American educator. Spurning the temptation to give in to bitterness for the way he was treated, Carver wisely wrote, “Hate within will eventually destroy the hater.”
In the book
of Esther, we see how self-destructive hatred can be. Mordecai, a Jew, refused
to bow down before Haman—a self-important dignitary in the Persian court. This
angered Haman, who manipulated information to make Mordecai and his people
appear as threats to the empire (3:8-9). When his scheming was complete, Haman
called on the Persian king to kill all the Jews. The king proclaimed an edict
to that effect, but before it could be carried out, Esther intervened and
Haman’s devious plot was revealed (7:1-6). Enraged, the king had Haman executed
on gallows the schemer had built for Mordecai (7:7-10).
Carver’s
words and Haman’s actions remind us that hatred is self-destructive. In
synagogues all over the world every Shabbat Jews recite Psalm 34 which instills
in us how should live our lives.
Sometimes we even sing out loud these words in the original Hebrew! “Who
is the person who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? Guard
your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. Shun evil and do good,
seek peace and pursue it.” (vvs. 13-15)
More than
ever in today’s political climate we need to watch what we say, do what is
right and good, and pursue peace to heal our divided nation.
Shabbat
Shalom and Happy Purim
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