RABBI SILVERS

rabbisilvers@cbiboca.org

This month we celebrate Purim - the powerful story of Esther, who was called upon by her community, and at great personal risk, took on the mantle of leadership and advocated to change the fate of those who were marginalized. In her spirit, let us call out the injustice of hunger this Purim, and support MAZON (lit. “food” or “sustenance” - a Jewish Response to Hunger; an American nonprofit working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel). We can use our collective voice, as Queen Esther used hers, to share the real story of hunger in America – and work together to rewrite that story.

This Purim and always, we share an obligation to care for the poor and hungry in our midst. We are commanded to provide matanot l’evyonim - gifts to the poor. In the larger sense we are asked to pursue social justice – we recognize the need to address hunger along with the other inequalities we see in our society. With your help, we can meet that obligation: the Esther within each of us fighting for a better world, marked by justice and compassion, where every person can feed themselves with dignity.

You can’t see hunger, but it is all around us. Forty million Americans - that’s 1 in 8 - are not getting enough to eat. And while hunger may not be easy to see, it does not discriminate. Right here in Florida, approximately 2.8 million people, are food insecure. Hunger is the third-grader with a growling stomach eyeing his classmate’s sandwich, the elderly woman rationing out a chicken into “just enough” portions and the single mom eating leftovers off her kids’ plates for dinner.

According to Feeding America, 95% of the people served by food banks and pantries are not homeless; they are people struggling to keep up with their bills each month. In fact, 69% of them are forced to choose between buying food and paying utility bills. The choice between food and electricity is one no one should have to make.

This Purim, our festival of revelry and fun, where we forget our usual inhibitions and turn our usual routines on their heads, let us also remember that we have the power to transform the lives of those who are suffering. We can turn their days of hunger and mourning into days of joy.

CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL • WELCOMING YOU FROM THE FIRST SHALOM • WWW.CBIBOCA.ORG 3 Please come celebrate Purim on Monday, March 9th at 5:30 pm as we present our CBI Purim Shpiel: Billy Joel – the Megillah Man! And please consider bringing the joy of sustenance to those who hunger by making a donation to MAZON…

https://mazon.org/ways-to-give Call to donate by phone: (310) 442-0020 or (800) 813-0557 Mail in your donation: MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger PO Box 96119, Washington, DC 20090 Rabbi Silvers Senior Rabbi