The Jewish holiday of Purim begins next week. Purim celebrates the biblical story of Esther and how she rescued the Jews from genocide planned by the Persian Empire.
The Book of Esther describes a Persian official named Haman meeting with the Emperor and casting lots (purim) to decide on the date the Jews were to be annihilated. It was only by the courage of Esther and the providence of God that the Jews were saved.
As a people, the Jews have never forgotten Purim. And we should never forget how easily it is for one group of people to decide by lot or logic that they would be better off without another group of people.
There have always been Purims or plots. The Nazis did it to the Jews, the Gypsies, the LGBTQ+ Community, and other minorities. The white population in Tulsa did it by burning out the area called Black Wall Street. The KKK systematically did it to Blacks in the deep South.
Does the pattern sound familiar? Whether it is genocide, internment, or deportation, the motives are often the same. Haman wanted the wealth of the Jews. Other times, one group is convinced that another group is a financial drain.
We do not cast lots anymore. We just vote. But the results are the same. The majority gets to stay, the minority has to go. The book of Esther is in the Bible for a reason. Read it!
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Mark Ross
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