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).
Link:
The Other Purims
Abraham worshipped idols as did his father, Terach.
Terach was an intelligent man, as was his son, Abraham.
But Abraham came to recognize the falseness of the idols, while Terach stayed behind.
Because Terach never truly believed in the idols and never truly worshipped them.
But when Abraham worshipped idols, it was with all his heart, mind and soul, every hour of the day and night.
It had to be real. Everything Abraham did had to be real.
And therefore, he found truth.