Shavua Tov
On Monday night, we will gather to celebrate Purim, a holiday of costumes and celebration, of laughter and noise, of joy that seems almost irreverent. Beneath the masks and merriment lies one of the most profound teachings in Jewish life.
Purim is the story of hiddenness and courage. It is the only book of the Tanach in which God’s name does not explicitly appear. And yet, as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l taught, God is present precisely in that hiddenness in the quiet bravery of Esther, in Mordechai’s moral clarity, and in a community that refuses to surrender to fear. The absence of God’s name is not the absence of God. It is an invitation for human beings to step forward.
Rabbi Sacks often wrote that Judaism is the story of “the transformation of fate into destiny.” The turning point of Purim v’nahafoch hu “it was turned upside down” is not merely about survival. It is about responsibility. Esther does not wait passively for redemption. She embraces her moment and says, “If I perish, I perish.” In that act of courage, she transforms Jewish fate into Jewish destiny.
That message speaks powerfully to us at the Tucson J.
Our mission is to strengthen Jewish life and create a more vibrant Jewish future. That future does not simply unfold on its own. It is built through vision, generosity, leadership, and daily acts of commitment. It is built by donors who invest in Jewish continuity. By board members who steward our sacred trust. By staff who animate our values in classrooms, on the fitness floor, in cultural arts, and in the relationships they nurture. By community members who choose to gather, celebrate, and belong.
The Megillah tells us:
LaYehudim hayta orah v’simcha v’sasson vikar
“For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor.” (Esther 8:16)
In many communities, these words are not simply read they are sung. They rise together in melody, transforming text into shared celebration.
At the Tucson J, our work is to create that orah that light. Light in early childhood education that shapes Jewish identity from the very beginning. Light in programs that bring generations together. Light in spaces of wellness, learning, culture, and connection. Light that ensures Judaism is not something hidden or fragile, but vibrant, visible, and filled with joy.
There is a lyric from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen that feels especially resonant:
“Even when the dark comes crashing through,
When you need a friend to carry you…
Purim reminds us that we find one another. And when we do, what once felt uncertain can be turned upside down into possibility.
As we enter this holiday of courage and celebration, may we continue to choose responsibility over resignation, generosity over hesitation, and joy over fear. May we be worthy of the sacred work entrusted to us strengthening Jewish life today and building a vibrant Jewish future for tomorrow.
And may we help ensure that for our community, too, LaYehudim Hayta OrahlaYehudim hayta orah v’simcha there is light and joy.
Chag Purim Sameach,
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
