Did you know that in the entire book of Esther, God’s name is not mentioned even once? His presence is hidden. On reflection, that’s often how I’ve come to feel about other Jewish writings as well. Sometimes God seems concealed from our untrained eyes. We notice unfamiliar rules and stories—things that don’t always make sense to our Western way of thinking. Yet, time and again, I’ve found that when I let go of my own assumptions, I begin to see that God is there too.

Purim is also a story of perseverance and trust—of stepping outside your comfort zone and realising that perhaps you have been called for “such a time as this.” It’s an invitation to courage and faithfulness, even when the path isn’t clear.

I’d like to encourage you to be willing to explore the difficult things—the ideas that challenge and stretch you. There is a Jewish proverb that captures this balance well:
“If you believe everything you read, you are a fool; if you believe nothing, you are a cynic.”
I think that sums it up beautifully.