On Purim, we eat hamantashen.
Why?
Look at the shape of this cookie. It is shaped like a triangle-the same shape as one of the nekudos, a סגל. We see this root word in one of the names given to the Jewish People. We are called the עם סגולה.
What is the significance to all this?
If you look at the סגל, you will notice that any way you turn it, it will keep its shape. The same is true of the hamantash and triangle. It doesn’t change its shape when you twist it, twirl it or flip it.
The same is true of every Jewish person. No matter what a person does, no matter which way they turn, they will always remain a part of the עם סגולה. There is nothing a person can do-no sin, no act, no thought and no belief that can change the fact that they are a part of the Chosen Nation, the עם סגולה.
So no matter which way life takes you, remember this. Remember this on all the twists and turns of life. Remember this forever.
You will always be a part of our Chosen Nation.
That is the secret behind the hamantash.
And that is what bothered Haman so much about us to the point that he wanted to kill us. We are an עם מפוזר ומפורד בין העמים. We are scattered, far-flung and widespread and yet at the same time, ודתיהם שונות-we have different customs. We don’t do what the goyim do. We are different.
How?
Because we are an עם סגולה. And by always remembering that we are part of the Chosen Nation, we can keep our identity strong no matter which direction life takes us.
May we always be able to keep our identity strong and remain proud of who we are.
