Dear Friends,

The holiday of Purim, instituted in the book of Esther, begins tonight!
Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim!

Esther 9:22 says this holiday is to be one of feasting and joy in celebration of deliverance from those who sought to annihilate every Jew in the ancient Persian Empire. Because the intended genocide was defeated, the Jews of Persia went from sorrow to joy, from mourning to a holiday. To this day, Purim is celebrated in every generation and the commemoration of Purim has not ceased among the Jewish people (Esther 9:28).

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

In the context of Israel's war on multiple fronts with enemies intent on their destruction, the celebration of Purim is at least as meaningful this year as it has been every year since the time of Esther.

After Esther became queen, Haman - second in authority under the king of Persia - issued a decree calling for the annihilation of all Jews in the Empire. According to Esther 3:13, the edict gave orders to destroy, kill, and annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day. 

If Haman's plan had been successful, the Jewish people would not have survived. This is because the Persian Empire included the whole known world at the time, including the land of Israel.

Think about the consequences of that in terms of the past 2500 years of Jewish history and the past 2000 years of Christian history. None of it would have happened!

In response to Esther's request to have Haman's decree reversed, the king allowed the Jews to defend themselves against those who came to kill them (Esther 8:11). The Jews were only allowed to do to their enemies what their enemies intended to do to them. In their battle for self-preservation, they were victorious. 

As we know from history, Haman's attempt to wipe out the Jews was far from the last. In every generation since Esther’s time, the Jewish people have experienced various degrees of persecution – most often involving deadly force.

This historic reality is what has made Esther and its account of victory over attempted genocide so meaningful to the Jewish people generation after generation. And it is what makes it so particularly relevant to current events.

Since its founding, the State of Israel has had to defend itself repeatedly against existential danger. The threat to the survival of the Jewish State is even more clear since the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Hamas’ invasion of Israel and the war Israel has been fighting ever since is a vivid example of the significance of the story of Esther. Hamas targeted women, children and elderly for extinction, just as the enemies of the Jews did in ancient Persia. And just as the Jews of Esther's time did, Israel is fighting back.

Indeed, the story of Esther demonstrates the importance of the right to self-defense when threatened with murder. The right of humans to defend themselves against those who intend to murder, and the responsibility of governments to protect their people, is a timeless and universal issue of justice.  

The right to, and responsibility for, self-defense is applicable right here, right now in the context of Israel's war with Hamas. Remember, Israel did not start this war with Hamas! Hamas started it when it invaded Israel, committed horrific atrocities – raping, mutilating, and burning alive Israeli men, women, children and elderly – and took hundreds hostage to Gaza.

Therefore, the actions Israel has taken in Gaza are justifiably defensive and necessary to achieve the stated purposes of 1) destroying Hamas' ability to ever again be able to do anything like it did on October 7th and 2) rescuing hostages still held in unimaginable conditions, enduring abuse, torture and deprivation.

In spite of the horror that happened on October 7, 2023, and the fact that as of today, there are still 59 hostages - some dead and some alive - still captive in Gaza, world opinion consistently condemns Israel's actions to protect its citizens, both free and captive. The Jewish State is falsely and irrationally demonized and delegitimized for its efforts to defeat a terrorist organization that vows to repeat what it did on October 7th until it has destroyed all the Jews.

Once again, just as in the time of Esther, the survival of the Jewish people is at stake. And while much of the world - including those in academia, government, media and even parts of the church - choose to forget, ignore or justify the genocidal intent and actions of Israel's enemies, we must not!

We must not forget, ignore or justify AND we must stand united as Christians and Jews in support of Israel's right to defend itself against enemies whose reason for existence is to annihilate the Jewish people!
 

Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim!
Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel live!

PARTNERSHIP RESOURCES: 
Free Educational Material for You to Use and Share!
 

CAMERA's Partnership of Christians and Jews is happy to announce the addition of another researched and sourced FactSheet to the free resources available on our website! 

The latest is titled A Palestinian Jesus Delegitimizes the Jewish State and is ready for your personal use and as a tool to share with everyone in your sphere of influence.

The Partnership's FactSheets counter fiction with fact concerning specific libels about Israel promoted by legacy media, various governments, educational institutes, and even some in the church. These timely resources will equip you to counter efforts to delegitimize and demonize Israel in your sphere of influence.

Three previously released FactSheets titled Genocide, Civilian deaths, and Humanitarian crisis address false allegations in the context of Israel's war with Hamas. A fourth reveals the history behind the use of the terms "Palestinian" and "Palestine." And a fifth, titled: "Promises Made, Covenant Remembered," is part one in an upcoming series on "Replacement Theology: What is it and Why is it Unbiblical?​"
 

Feel free to download and print!
Stay tuned! More FactSheets coming soon!