Dear Friend,

There is a famous joke told of a man desperately looking for parking in midtown Manhattan. After twenty minutes of circling as the moments tick by, he lifts his eyes heavenward and promises, “G‑d, if You help me find a spot, I will donate ten percent of my profit to charity.”

Just then, he notices a place opening up just ahead of him. “It’s okay, G‑d,” he says. “I managed to find a place without You.”

This Saturday night and Sunday, we will once again listen to the reading of the book of Esther. On the surface, we’ll simply hear a fascinating tale of coincidences. Ahasuerus decides to replace his wife; it just happens that Esther is chosen to be the queen; Mordechai happens to be at the right place at the right time to save the king’s life; and Haman seems to run out of good luck just in the nick of time.

But, in truth, G‑d is behind it all. In fact, the sages of the Talmud associate the name of the book, “Esther,” with G‑d’s hiddenness. Because He is there just below the surface, making sure everything happens just in time.

May G‑d grant that we each perceive His presence in our lives. Always.

Happy Purim!

The Chabad.org Editorial Team

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