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המוקתב
המוקת
םירופ
Purim T'Kumah in Tacoma
A Proclamation
For The Tacoma News Tribune
March, 2001
And in every province and in every city…the Jews had
gladness and joy, merriment and festivity.
-Esther,-8:17
[If you do not keep God’s commandments] you will lose
“the ability to stand your ground (t’kumah)”
before your enemies.
-Leviticus,-26:37
From this time forward, the Jews of Tacoma, Washington will
have a special relationship with the festival of Purim. Purim
celebrates the triumph of the Jews of the ancient community,
Shushan, over enemies who wanted to destroy them. Since that
episode, recounted in the biblical Scroll of Esther, Jews have
celebrated the 14th day of the Hebrew
month Adar as a day of merriment and gladness, joy and laughter.
In this spirit, many Jewish communities around
the world observe their own community Purims. These local
festivals celebrate the anniversaries of events during which
Jews were in great danger, but prevailed against mighty enemies
and forces of nature.
The Jews of Tacoma, Washington and South Puget
Sound have just experienced what could have been a disastrous
cataclysm, and emerged relatively unscathed. The Great
Earthquake of 5761 (2001) shook us to our very foundations. It
destroyed property; it caused injuries; it wreaked havoc. We
pray for the victims.
However, despite the vast property damage, the
earthquake was not the direct cause of any fatalities.
Given the might that emerged from the depths of the earth that
day, such fortune is nothing short of miraculous.
Our neighbors to the north and south were
shaken more violently than we. We pledge to assist them where we
can, and we pray for their continued well-being. Tacoma,
however, sits on bedrock - we are the city of t’kumah, a city
that stood its ground.
We remember that event with awe; we thank God
that it wasn’t worse.
Therefore, on this
day of Purim for all Jews, I, rabbi of Tacoma’s historic
Temple Beth El, do hereby proclaim that the fifth day of the
month of Adar, the anniversary of The Great Earthquake of 5761,
shall henceforth be known as Purim T’kumah in Tacoma.
From this time forth, let that day be for the Jews of Tacoma -
and all who wish to join our celebration - and day of joy and
merriment, festivity and gladness. Let it be a day to celebrate
our fortune - not for its own sake, but as an opportunity to
continue devoting the beauty, bounty, and strength of Tacoma,
Washington to the betterment of our unpredictable world.
May the stability - t’kumah - of the ground
beneath our feet, also lead to t’kumah of body, heart and mind
for us and for all people everywhere.
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