Whatever parts of ourselves we feel the need to hide – Purim is a time in the year when we are asked to examine the price we pay for staying quiet and hiding.
Whatever parts of ourselves we feel the need to hide – Purim is a time in the year when we are asked to examine the price we pay for staying quiet and hiding.
Every year when we read the book of Esther as part of the observance of Purim I am struck by a different part of the story. This year one of the parts of the story that resonated was that Esther hid her Jewish identity for most of the story. However, in order for her to fulfill her mission and to save the Jewish people, she needed to find the courage to reveal her true identity and speak her truth.
This experience of hiding parts of ourselves, I think is one that many people can relate to. Some of us have felt the need to hide our sexual orientation or gender identity, others perhaps have felt the need to hide struggles with mental health or disability, others perhaps have felt the need to hide struggles with alcohol or drugs or an experience with abuse, and others – like Esther – have felt the need to hide their religious beliefs for fear of discrimination.
I remember clearly the 1980s when the lgbt community was organizing politically and encouraging everyone to come out. I remember clearly feeling very conflicted – there was a part of me that didn’t want to stir things up or make trouble. There was a part of me that felt that if I stayed quiet and tried to fit in that life would be easier. Eventually, I came to understand that the price of staying quiet and hiding was too high and that if I wanted the world to become more accepting I needed to add my voice to the struggle for equality.
Whatever parts of ourselves we feel the need to hide – Purim is a time in the year when we are asked to examine the price we pay for staying quiet and hiding. Reading the book of Esther gives us the opportunity to ask ourselves if it is time to find the strength and courage to embrace our hidden parts and find our voice to speak up and out about the parts of ourselves that we have previously kept hidden.
The story of Esther is an inspiring example of finding the strength and courage to reveal our complete self and the power that can come from using our voice.
Malala Yousafzai, the activist and Nobel Prize laureate, a leader in the fight for education for women and girls in Pakistan. Malala reminds us that:
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
Chag Purim Sameach – Happy Purim!
Carl E. Josehart, MSW (he/him/his)
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