After learning all of Megillot Esther, with many different approaches, some ideas from the Megillah seem so familiar. When I was in class, I honestly just paused to try to think about why the Megillah seemed so familiar. I learned Esther as a child, but why would I remember the themes. For instance, the idea of a chaiastic structure/ Hester Panim that we learn from Sanctuaries in Time by Rabbi Dessler, or why would I feel such a strong connection to Akiva Tatz's views on the Megillah, about seeing G-d in every day life activities?
The reason why these things sounded familiar was not because I learned them from Megillot Esther at one point in my life, but because I learned them in Mrs. Perl's class through the other Megillot.
Although there were so many similarities between Esther and the other Megillot we learned, including Eicha and Kohelet, I wanted to focus on one main one. I really saw a connection between Worldmask, Akiva Tatz's view of the Megillah, with the personality of the old character, the Nehene, before he changed his philosophies.
Starting off Kohelet, we met the Nehene. The Nehene started off with his "Gan Eden" approach. In that approach, the Nehene explained that everything comes from G-d. Every single thing. You eat an apple, you have to recognize G-d made the apple. Basically, the Nehene found G-d in everything in his life. Big or small, He was always recognized.
This to me sounded so similar to the ideas in Worldmask, written by Akiva Tatz. We basically discussed that Akiva Tatz explained that G-d was intentionally wearing a mask because we did something wrong. G-d was hiding his face. In the Megillah, even though he was not present, He did pull the strings. Not only does this happen in the Megillah but in our every day lives G-d is pulling the strings. We may not see it, but EVERYTHING comes from Him. As we continued to discuss, the world is like a mask. Our job in the world is reveal the mask and see G-d. To do this we need to look for Him in every day situations.
So we see that G-d hid his face ( Which we also see in Megillat Eicha,) and we see that Akiva Tatz has the same spiritual approach as the original Nehene.
Did anyone else notice cool similarities between the Megillot?
The reason why these things sounded familiar was not because I learned them from Megillot Esther at one point in my life, but because I learned them in Mrs. Perl's class through the other Megillot.
Although there were so many similarities between Esther and the other Megillot we learned, including Eicha and Kohelet, I wanted to focus on one main one. I really saw a connection between Worldmask, Akiva Tatz's view of the Megillah, with the personality of the old character, the Nehene, before he changed his philosophies.
Starting off Kohelet, we met the Nehene. The Nehene started off with his "Gan Eden" approach. In that approach, the Nehene explained that everything comes from G-d. Every single thing. You eat an apple, you have to recognize G-d made the apple. Basically, the Nehene found G-d in everything in his life. Big or small, He was always recognized.
This to me sounded so similar to the ideas in Worldmask, written by Akiva Tatz. We basically discussed that Akiva Tatz explained that G-d was intentionally wearing a mask because we did something wrong. G-d was hiding his face. In the Megillah, even though he was not present, He did pull the strings. Not only does this happen in the Megillah but in our every day lives G-d is pulling the strings. We may not see it, but EVERYTHING comes from Him. As we continued to discuss, the world is like a mask. Our job in the world is reveal the mask and see G-d. To do this we need to look for Him in every day situations.
So we see that G-d hid his face ( Which we also see in Megillat Eicha,) and we see that Akiva Tatz has the same spiritual approach as the original Nehene.
Did anyone else notice cool similarities between the Megillot?
Interesting blog post, Rena! I also found similar ideas between Kohelet and Esther. I think the largest similarity was in Shlomo's conclusion that in order to find meaning in life, we need to recognize that man is subservient to G-d, and that G-d is in control of our lives. Esther teaches us the same thing. It's so fascinating to be able to connect the different megillot we learn!
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