March 12, 2009

Shalom,

Earlier this week, Jews in Israel and around the world celebrated the festive holiday of Purim, remembering the victory of the Jewish people over their enemies 2,400 years ago, and the bravery of one young woman.

To everyone who knows the Bible, it is a familiar story, chronicled in the book of Esther. The King of Persia, Xerxes (or Achashverosh in Hebrew), chooses Esther to be his queen, unaware that she is Jewish. Esther hears from her uncle Mordecai that the King has entrusted the fate of Persian Jews to Haman, the King's top adviser. Haman hates the Jews, and issues an order to kill them all.

At great risk to her own life, Esther reveals to the King that she is Jewish and pleads with him to overturn Haman’s decree. He agrees to do so, and, in a fitting twist, hands down to the evil Haman the death sentence Haman himself had planned to give the Jews.

We are told in the book of Esther to celebrate Purim as a time of "feasting and joy." This is actually what takes place, even today. The streets of Jerusalem come alive, with people singing, dancing, and handing out sweets to the children in order to make this holiday the most lively and joyful day of the year. Many people dress up in costumes.

As I ate the Purim feast with family and friends, I felt genuinely connected to the Jews who lived in ancient times. Indeed, I realized that my generation is in a similar position to Esther. Today we are again confronting a world whose leaders call for the destruction of Jews. And again we must learn from Esther’s example. She must have been terrified entering King Achashverosh’s presence unannounced -- such a thing was simply not done, and could have meant death, even for the Queen. Yet Esther went on her holy mission anyway, with faith and hope that the King would overturn Haman’s decree. Here, I realized, was a true hero someone who was willing to risk her own life and well-being for the sake of her people.

Stepping out of the Purim feast and onto the streets of Jerusalem, I was hardly able to walk because of the hundreds of people crowding the streets, dancing and singing praises to God for the Purim miracle He performed. I saw Jewish immigrants of all nationalities --Ethiopians, Indians, Iranians, Americans, Europeans -- and thought that, by coming to Israel, and trusting that God would provide for them in their new home, they too are displaying some of Esther’s courage. Indeed, the faith that immigrants exhibit when making their big move to Israel never ceases to inspire me.

I believe deeply that, just as God used Esther long ago to bring about Jewish salvation, so today He also uses Christian friends like you, who give so generously to support aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) and help rescue Jewish exiles from all over the world so they can return to their biblical homeland. In so many instances you have acted in faith, putting aside your financial worries to give generously to The Fellowship's On Wings of Eagles program so that another Jew can come to Israel in order to strengthen the Holy Land as God promised.

Each day all of us, Christians and Jews alike, enter the King's castle and fill that castle - God's kingdom -- with our prayers. What my incredible experience on Purim this year reminded me was that the only true king is our God, and it is He alone who ultimately makes decisions. Our job is simply to obey His wishes and make the world a holier place for Him and us to dwell.

Happy Purim,
Yael