This year, the days of Purim take on a special meaning. The satanic aspiration "to destroy, kill, and annihilate all Jews, young and old, children and women" is not a description of a dark period in the past, but a contemporary, fresh, and bloody reality.
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The cruel oppressors did not spare women and infants, the elderly and the disabled, and did not distinguish between 'settlers' and 'peacemakers'.
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It is very easy to see the common threads between the story of Purim and the events of recent months. Then as now, it all begins with Haman's feeling that the Jewish people are "scattered and separated," divided and torn within themselves, and this is an opportunity to harm them. But once the Jewish people recognize the threat, they unite and come together as one man with one heart.
To harm those who seek our harm
Another similarity is the powerful connection with faith and God. Before Haman's decree was issued, there were Jews who followed the Gentiles and learned from their ways, but as soon as they sensed danger, they all united in fasting and prayer and in strong faith in the Creator of the world. We have also seen now the outburst of faith that swept through all parts of the people, especially the warriors.
Haman sought to destroy the Jews, but the miracle that occurred brought about "and it was overthrown, that the Jews themselves should rule over those who hated them." Haman himself prepared the tree that was used to hang him. And so now, "his evil plan that he devised against the Jews will return upon his own head, and they will hang him and his sons on the tree" - the enemies of Israel sought to bring destruction upon us, and in the end, destruction was brought upon their heads.
And another important point to note: Some do not understand the meaning of the mass killings committed by the Jews on the day the decree of extermination was supposed to take place. They simply do not delve into the depths of the story of the scroll. Wasn't the decree revoked, "for a letter that is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's seal - cannot be revoked." Ahasuerus only gave the Jews permission to defend themselves - "to gather and stand for their lives.".
The Jews had no choice but to preemptively strike at their enemies and destroy all who sought their lives. They did not kill the 'innocent', but as the scroll itself says - "The Jews gathered in their cities... to lay hands on those who sought their harm.".
If they had not harmed them, they could have struck the Jews, and therefore there was no choice but to destroy them first.
The destruction of evil
When Queen Esther comes before Ahasuerus and asks for another day to strike the enemies of Israel in Shushan, she does so out of recognition that evil must be completely eradicated. Those hiding in the tunnels or in Rafah cannot be left, and the murderers must be destroyed to the last one, including hanging in public the ten sons-helpers of the enemy of the Jews.
This determination to beat the haters of Israel until complete victory is what brought us the joy of Purim, and "to the Jews there was light and joy and gladness and gladness." This is the message that all of Israel's enemies need to receive - the people of Israel will flourish and prosper, while its enemies will be struck down and destroyed, for "He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.".
And from the redemption of Purim we will come to the true and complete redemption soon in our days.
