Standing in Achdut With Israel on Ta’anit Esther

On Ta’anit Esther, the fast day that recalls Queen Esther’s call for the Jews of Shushan to unite in fasting and tefillah before she approached King Achashverosh, SAR Academy gathered as a community in a powerful display of achdut and shared responsibility.

In the Purim story, collective prayer paved the way for the redemption of the Jewish people from evil that sought to destroy them. More than 2,300 years later, that message resonates with renewed urgency.

On the steps of the school, students and faculty came together in tefillah at a time when families across Israel are living in a constant state of uncertainty, moving in and out of shelters, and reservists being called back to duty. The SAR community stood in solidarity with the people of Israel and with the brave soldiers of both the Israeli and U.S. military, offering prayers for their protection and safety.

But protection is not only physical; it is spiritual as well.

That same morning marked the culmination of the SAR Mezuzah Project (TheMezuzahProject.org/SAR), a schoolwide initiative to ensure that every IDF base has checked and kosher mezuzot. In their classrooms, students learned about the mitzvah of mezuzah, its meaning, its halachic requirements, and its role as a symbol of divine protection. Simultaneously, the broader SAR community mobilized to raise support for nearly 800 mezuzot.

Each mezuzah represents a tangible reminder to our chayalim that they are not alone, that an entire community supports them.

As Purim began that evening, the lessons of Esther and Mordechai felt especially timely. When Haman sought to annihilate the Jewish people of ancient Persia, it was unity, courage, and unwavering faith that ultimately brought about salvation. Today, as challenges once again confront Am Yisrael, that same spirit endures.

Our strength lies in standing together, in tefillah, in mitzvot, and in mutual responsibility.

Am Yisrael Chai.