A Fifth “Mem” for Purim 2025
The four mitzvot of Purim are widely known as the four “mems”, meaning that each one of the mitzvot begins with the Hebrew letter מ—”mem”… I would like to propose for Purim 2025 a fifth mitzvah beginning with the letter מ—משפחות החטופים (mishpachot ha-chatufim)—the families of the hostages. On the one hand, we must celebrate Purim this year as in every other year. Anything else would be an admission of defeat. On the other hand, this Purim we simply cannot ignore the plight of our brothers and sisters still being held hostage in horrific conditions inside Gaza, and of their families around the country who have been going through a living hell, every minute of every day for the past 17 months.
