In 1541, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of Spain, led a fleet in an attempted attack against Algiers. Miraculously, a storm capsized many of the attacking boats, resulting in the expedition’s failure and rescuing the city’s Jewish community from Spanish anti-Semitic rule. In commemoration of the miracle, the local community marked 4 MarCheshvan as a “minor Purim,” omitting the penitential Tachanun prayers and partaking of festive meals (Zeh Hashulchan pp. 96–97).
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The Other Purims
There are crucial issues to which the Torah devotes only an allusion, yet the story of finding a bride for Isaac consumes an entire chapter.
Because this truly is the theme of all of Torah: The union of male and female energies, so that the world can operate in harmony.
The union of heaven with earth. Of soul with body. Of your spiritual life with your business life. Of light and mystery. Of Creator and creation.
There really is nothing else.
And it all begins with harmony between husband and wife.