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I want to thank the clergy, staff and parishioners of Calvary Episcopal Church for so warmly and enthusiastically welcoming this year’s Purim Shpiel. When davening there on Rosh Hashanah, the magnificent architecture and beauty of the main sanctuary reminded me of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films. Thus “Hershel Potter and the Gantse Megillah”. It was offered solely out of love and respect, and I hope that it was received that way. Thank you to the large cast, whose good humor and dedication made it a reality, and to our professional staff for filling in all of the gaps.

In addition to the wonderful story-telling that is the Harry Potter series, there is much to learn from the actions of the characters, and it connects to Jewish learning and practices.

• Harry exhibits fierce loyalty and responsibility to his friends. He creates the Order of the Phoenix to provide them with skills to defend themselves. In the end, he sacrifices his own life to save the surviving Hogwarts community, not knowing that he is indeed a Horcrux and will survive.
• Harry calls evil by its’ name, Voldemort, despite the denials of adults who should know better, some who fear and obey him, most of whom just are frozen with fear, unable to accept the reality or act upon it to protect their fellow wizards.
• Harry demonstrates remarkable bravery for such a young person, facing true evil and never giving up, knowing that his life is at stake.
• Harry is resourceful and resilient.
• The good people recognize his positive characteristics, and support and defend him. Some are jealous of him, although his lot in life was foisted upon him, and he could not reject it. He bravely accepted his responsibilities and fulfilled them to the best of his ability.
• In the end, good will always triumph over evil.
• You have to reach a point when you trust yourself.

I have no doubt that there are many more points to share, but the above came to mind. “The scar had not pained Harry for 19 years. All was well.” May it be so for us as well.