by Rabbi Shraga Simmons
The fast of the 13th of Adar is intended to hone the soul and galvanize Jewish strength for the challenges ahead.
Every year, the Fast of Esther is held on one of the days prior to Purim. Usually it is the day immediately before Purim, though there are exceptions. (see Law #4 below)
What is the source of this fast?
In the Megillah (4:16), Esther agrees to see the king uninvited, and asks the Jewish People to fast for three days beforehand.
Why did she call for a fast? Because a fast helps to lower the volume on our physical pursuits in order to focus more acutely on our spiritual selves. This facilitates the process of "teshuva" -- literally "return." We return to our essential state of purity. Esther called for a fast, knowing that through soul-searching the Jews would forge a spiritual connection necessary to make her mission successful. (And it paid off!)
This is not a fast of sadness. Rather, the purpose of the fast is elevation and inspiration.
PRE-WAR FASTING
Similarly, there was another fast during the Purim story: The Jews fasted and prayed on the 13th of Adar in preparation for their ...   more »

by Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller
Esther was a lonely orphan who developed within herself the unusual qualities of piercing through veils and touching all hearts.
The holiday of Purim represents the best of times. It emerged, however, from the worst of times.
We were never closer to obliteration, both spiritually and physically. The hedonism of the prevailing Persian culture was part of the air that we breathed. It dulled our senses to the point that when King Achashverosh appeared in the garments of the High Priest of Jerusalem, presenting the treasure that had been robbed from the Holy Temple with the detachment of a museum curator, there was no protest.
We too had reached the point of being able to say, "How beautiful, how fascinating," when we once said, "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten." We were desensitized to ourselves, and to God.
God is the hidden character of the Book of Esther. His name is never mentioned. As the events were played out in real time, few were able to see His hidden presence.
One of the few was Esther. Somehow she had escaped the desensitization.
FROM LONELINESS TO STRENGTH
Let us look at ...   more »

"This government is doing more than any other government to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue. Even if we will have to face the Iranian threat alone, we will be able to," Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (read his JPost blog), told members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.
According to the Israel Beiteinu leader, "If Iran manages to attain nuclear capabilities the entire region will enter a mad race to achieve similar capacities."
US inviting Iran, Syria for Iraq talks
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Sudan Wednesday for talks between two leaders who face strong UN Security Council pressure, Iran for its nuclear program and Sudan for the conflict in Darfur.
Ahmadinejad was met at Khartoum airport by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a day after the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor accused a junior member of al-Bashir's cabinet of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
During his two-day visit, Ahmadinejad will deliver a lecture at a private institution in Khartoum and witness the signing of several bilateral agreements, according to Sudan's Information Ministry.
On Tuesday, the ICC chief prosecutor accused Sudan's minister of state for humanitarian affairs, Ahmed Muhammed Harun, ...   more »

Former secretary of state urges Bush administration to expand Mideast peacemaking efforts beyond Israel and Palestinians to include Damascus just hours after US said it would join Iraq-sponsored 'neighbors meeting' with Iran, Syria
Former US Secretary of State James A. Baker III on Tuesday urged the Bush administration to expand Mideast peacemaking efforts beyond Israel and the Palestinians to include Syria.   
Israel needs peace on both fronts, he said, while Syria may be able to influence the Hamas militia to recognize Israel's right to exist, thereby removing a roadblock to peace talks.  
At the same time, Baker said Syria must "stop screwing around" in Lebanon and stop transporting weapons to the Hizbullah militants there.  
Baker was co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, which in December recommended US dialogue with Iran and Syria, a course the administration has resisted until now.  
'We have no alternative'
He spoke in a lecture series at the Library of Congress just a few hours after the Bush administration, in a reversal, said it would join an Iraq-sponsored "neighbors meeting" with Iran and Syria.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said following an announcement on the launching of the new diplomatic initiative, "We ...   more »

JERUSALEM, Feb 26 (AFP)
Israel will next month stage its first-ever nationwide drill simulating a nuclear and chemical missile attack on its cities, rescue services said Monday.
The exercise was initiated by the army's homefront corps in the wake of last summer's war in Lebanon and Iran's calls for the destruction of the Jewish state and its controversial nuclear programme.
Israel suspects is Iran is aiming to develop an atomic bomb, but Tehran insists its programme is for civilian energy purposes.
The main scenarios which will be simulated are a massive rocket attack on cities as well as a "conventional and non-conventional missile attack," Magen David Adom rescue services spokesman Yerucham Mandola told AFP.
During the drill -- which will include army rescue forces, police, medical and firefighting services -- air-raid sirens may be sounded across the entire country.
The Hezbollah militia fired over 4,000 rockets against northern Israel during the war last summer, killing more than 40 civilians and paralysing the region's industry and economy.
During the 1991 Gulf War, Israeli citizens were equipped with gas masks out of fear of a chemical attack. None of the missiles fired from Iraq against Israel were equipped with chemical warheads.
Original ...   more »