We are living in remarkable times. The approximately 60-year reprieve from anti-Semitism that the nations of the world have given our people out of pity and sympathy in the aftermath of the Holocaust seems to be coming to an end. Our default status in the world – scapegoat, blame, hatred, anti-Semitism, de-legitimization – is being restored as Israel is no longer the underdog and victim in the world's eyes, but rather somehow we have become the aggressor and the perpetrator.
We sing with great enthusiasm, “When the month of Adar begins, we intensify our sense of joy.” But how can one be happy right now when we reflect on the Jewish condition in the world? What does Adar contain that would allow us to overlook and disregard the threats that Israel confronts, the isolation it experiences and the challenges our people face?
One year ago, the beautiful Fogel family was brutally murdered. Udi and Rut Fogel, together with their children Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and 3-month-old Hadas had their throats slit while they slept in their beds. Their three surviving children, Tamar, Roi and 3-year-old Yishai, live today with their grandparents who have at an advanced age heroically taken on the role of parents to these young children.
As we mark the first yahrzeit of this atrocity we can't help but ask, where is the simcha [joy] of Adar? How can one feel a sense of joy when incidents like this still happen to our people?
Today we are not safe even among the intellectual elite, even at the highest academic institution in America. Harvard's Kennedy School of Government is hosting a conference entitled: "Israel/Palestine and the One-State Solution," and you can be sure, that one state is not Israel. One featured speaker is Ali Abunimah, creator of the website Electronic Intifada, who opposes the existence of a "Jewish State." Also presenting is Harvard's own Stephen M. Walt, co-author of the anti-Israel book, The Israel Lobby.
Where is the joy of Adar when an anti-Israel group can freely present hate-rhetoric at Harvard?
Yes, some Harvard graduates have written to the university's president to protest their hosting this conference. But perhaps as appalling as the actual conference, is the relative silence of the Jewish community. Where is the outrage? Where are the rallies, letter writing campaigns, protests, sit-ins?
Where is the joy of Adar when a virulently anti-Israel group can freely present their hate-filled rhetoric and advance their one-state-free-of-Jews solution, on the most prestigious campus in America?
Today, even a candidate for public office is not afraid to reveal his blatant anti-Semitism.
Just this past week, Arthur Jones, a republican candidate for Congress in Chicago, said: "As far as I'm concerned, the Holocaust is nothing more than an international extortion racket by the Jews." Jones, who organizes neo-Nazi events in commemoration of Hitler's birthday, continued by calling the Holocaust "the blackest lie in history. Millions of dollars are being made by Jews telling this tale of woe and misfortune in books, movies, plays and TV."
Thankfully, Republicans have not put him on the ballot because of his views. But here is the scary thing. He has collected over 1,000 signatures on a petition to allow him to run. That means that there are more than 1,000 other people in Chicago that share his anti-Semitic views. His candidacy comes now, in the month of Adar, supposedly the most joyous of all months. Where is the simcha?
Related Article: Purim and Iran
A Sleeping Nation
When Haman targeted the Jews for annihilation, he said to Achashveirosh, "Let's destroy the Jews." Achashveirosh replied, "Not so fast. I am afraid of their God, lest He do to me what He did to my predecessors."
Haman relieved the King of that fear when he said "Yeshno am echad," which translates literally as “there is a certain nation.” The Talmud (Megillah 13b), using a play on words, explains that Haman was telling the King something much more strategic and insightful. Yoshnu am echad - there is a sleeping nation. They have been negligent of mitzvot, they are divided, fighting with one another and divisive. They are asleep as to what is important and what threatens them, Haman pointed out to the King.
The Jews were on the brink of extinction, because they were asleep.
The Jewish people were vulnerable and on the brink of extinction because they were asleep. Their eyes were closed to what was happening around them. They didn't take the threats seriously. Haman, like so many of our shrewd enemies throughout Jewish history, understood that going about business as usual, living with our eyes closed and sleep walking through life makes us particularly vulnerable and susceptible to attack.
Haman recognized that “there is a nation that is sleeping.” All he had to do was continue to lull the Jewish people into a false sense of security, to breed complacency and apathy, and he could accomplish his goal of ridding the world of our people.
So what spoiled his plan? The answer is simple: Mordechai and Esther stood up and, like an alarm, rang and rang until they woke up our people from their practically comatose sleep.
Mordechai understood that the antidote to “the nation that is sleeping” is as the Book of Esther states, “lech knos kol ha'yehudim - go and gather all the Jews together” and wake them up. He understood that the response to “they are scattered and dispersed” is to bring them together in fasting and praying. That wakeup call saved our people and ignited a response that provided not only the spark that led to military victory but attracted people of Shushan to want to join the Jewish people.
Purim Then and Now
I look around today and can't help but think our people have been lulled asleep into a false sense of security once again, making ourselves vulnerable. Our enemies are no less evil than Haman, their plans no less nefarious, and their goal no less threatening to our very existence. And yet, for so many, it is business as usual, eyes shut to what is happening and threatening us. Now is the time to wake up, now is the time for to come together in prayer, and in fasting, in letter writing, phone calls, advocacy, lobbying and any way that we can raise our voice on behalf of our people.
Do you think Israel is going to attack Iran? Or do you think no attack will take place and Iran will be allowed to go nuclear? Do you realize that either option is an absolute disaster, potentially devastating and earth-shattering? Do you truly understand the scenario and the casualties if Israel attacks Iran? Can you even imagine the rockets raining down throughout the country, terrorist attacks, condemnations from around the world seeking to isolate Israel, a possible embargo?
And if no attack happens, do you understand the threat and reality of a nuclear weapon held at Israel's head?
And if we do understand, how can we possibly remain asleep and go about business as usual?
Purim is unfolding again right before our very eyes. Iran is modern-day Persia and Ahmadinejad is modern-day Haman sharing the same, explicit goal – to wipe out, in minutes, 6 million Jews.
We must not allow that to happen.
We have an obligation to remember Amalek and what they sought to do to us. The Torah says it is not enough to “not forget.” You can be asleep and yet not forget somewhere buried in your memory that these were once enemies. No, we must also “remember” – zachor. We must remember at all times what our enemies are capable of and never feel a false sense of security.
Real joy is being alive, responsive and alert, ready to face whatever challenges may come.
The time has come to wake up, to remember the Fogel family, and to hold accountable people who celebrate such a murder. The time has come to wake up and to raise our voices in protest of anti-Israel conferences at Harvard and at other universities in this country. The time has come to wake up and to vocally reject the candidacy of a man who can deny the Holocaust. And the time has come to wake up and do everything that we can to make sure Iran does not go nuclear.
Perhaps the joy of Adar is the happiness of waking up, of rising from our sleep of recognizing what we confront and stepping up to make a difference. Real joy is being alive, responsive and alert, ready to face whatever challenges may come and to be confident that we will be triumphant, as we ultimately have been throughout our illustrious history.
When Adar begins, we remember enemies past like Amalek and Haman and we focus acutely on our present enemies and stopping them. When we wake up and confront them, that in itself is a source of joy.
(23) Sandra, March 11, 2012 9:43 AM
God will send Salvation to Israel
Let it be known that Salvation, peace, and security will come to Israel by the very hand of God. He who created and Loves Israel will never forsake Her. The large percentage of American people Love and respect Israel, but if the whole world turned their backs on Gods chosen people, Know this, God is not only behind you watching your back, He is in front of you and more are with you than are in the world. God Bless Israel and send peace to his people!
(22) Doreen, March 10, 2012 1:22 AM
Nothing new!
Based on history, was there a period that the Jews were never under threat? The Jews have always been in conflict. Someone is always trying to 'wipe them out'. ALL who have tried have failed. Some like Hitler might have been a little more successful than others but they fail in the end. Should we therefore cringe because Iran is making 'noise'? All the mighty nations who have tried to wipe them out - where are they now? And yet the Jews are still around. I am closely watching events with Iran, eagerly waiting to see how God will deliver this time. I am not just waiting but as often as possible I pray Psalm 83 - a psalm of Asaph and would encourage as many as possible to pray this psalm for the nation of Israel. Yes the Jews can fast and pray but we who are non-Jews should not sit idly by and allow them alone to take the 'punch'. I believe it is our duty to join them in prayer and wait for God to deliver.
(21) Leon Zacharowicz, March 8, 2012 8:28 PM
Stop interfering with our apathy
There are well over 5 dozen course to choose from. Don't wake us up while we slumber, after our meal.. Let us continue to dance away the night. We're all safe, and to heck with those who are not. We're on the Titanic,and we're on the safest man-made creation.
(20) Susan Robb, March 8, 2012 6:27 PM
May the Lord our God continue to bring peace to Jerusalem and all of Israel, the land given to Israel (Jacob) by God Himself.
(19) Deborah Bach, March 8, 2012 8:51 AM
One quibble - when Israel acts strongly she is criticized and feared, but NOT attacked!
Sticks & stones will break my bones, but names will never harm me - when Israel internalizes that, we'll be okay. Rabbi Goldberg writes: " Do you truly understand the scenario and the casualties if Israel attacks Iran? Can you even imagine the rockets raining down throughout the country, terrorist attacks, condemnations from around the world seeking to isolate Israel, a possible embargo?" I don't have any inside information, but I strongly disagree with this analysis. When Begin destroyed Iraq's nuclear capacity, no missiles rained down on Israel. On the contrary, it seems that Israel's restraint has always been interpreted by her enemies as weakness. Sure, if diplomacy can stop Iran before it's too late that would be great. But otherwise, I have no alternative other than to trust God and my government (Israel). I don't even lose sleep over this, even though I, my kids and grandkids all live in Israel. I fantasize that if Iran tries to send a nuclear weapon our way there will be a technical problem and it will explode before it leaves Iran. Of course, Jewish unity, is always the right response!
(18) KJ, March 8, 2012 8:10 AM
Over 2000 years ago a madman in Persia tried to kill all the Jews. Today a madman in Persia/Iran is trying to kill all the Jews. One failed and the other will fail.
(17) Ken Harrow, March 8, 2012 12:35 AM
Jews speaking against Israel
I am a Christian and I support Israel's right to exist 100% - What really upsets me is hearing a Jew on UK TV accusing Israel. That Jew's criticism carries so much weight and it is so hard for a supporter of Israel to denounce it. For goodness sake you Jewish people don't do your enemy's job for him.
(16) Phyllis Nelson CT USA, March 7, 2012 5:33 PM
Thank you!
Thank you for this great article and we stand with Israel no matter what. This is such a time for another Esther.
(15) Judith, March 7, 2012 4:33 PM
Absolutely Correct
Thank you, Rabbi, for this article. I agree 100% that Israel and the Jews are again facing a very serious threat. It is criminal the way the world and many in the USA don't see this as well. We all need to be more vocal and animated and stand-up for what is right. More importantly, it is important to have a united front with plans to confront the evil that is threatening.
(14) Ariel, March 7, 2012 3:41 PM
The way to fight is through Torah and Unity
I think this was a beautifully written article and the message is crucial that we need to wake up and understand the danger we are in. But I believe that the way to fight is not with outrage, rallies, letter writing campaigns, protests, or sit-ins, but with Teshuva. Mordechai and Esther did their own small hishtadlus but the real effort was with the Teshuva that Klal Yisrael did. We need to unite as a nation, stop constantly blaming others, and work on keeping the details of the Mitzvos and strengthening learning Torah with joy.
(13) Jayne Wood, March 7, 2012 2:40 PM
Our hearts are with you.
We live in England and are not Jewish but we stand with Israel and the Jewish people and are fasting and praying for you today.We will be reading the book of Esther tonight. We see the dangers which you are facing. You are not entirely alone as there are others here doing the same.
brad, March 7, 2012 8:02 PM
With you as well
@Jayne Wood - here in USA and couldn't have said it better. Well done. The threats are real, but I believe their are people, jews,christians, and others who will stand and fight evil.
Adina, March 8, 2012 3:19 AM
thank you
that's beautiful. thank you for being with us.
(12) smb, March 7, 2012 10:10 AM
we deffinately need to wake up, come back to our heritage and G-d, and come together because with unity, we are strong thank G--d
(11) Elisheva, March 7, 2012 8:27 AM
I agree with the author and Leah...
I live in Israel and visit America once a year to see family. I see both sides and I know the danger is real and close. We must come together, every Jew, to pray, to educate ourselves on what is happening all around us, and to be vocal and fight back!
(10) Michael Stern, March 7, 2012 1:10 AM
reach out and love one another
excellent
(9) ruth housman, March 6, 2012 10:59 PM
evil that is "live", meaning running backwards
It seems the story repeats almost endlessly, and you are right, these signs are terrifying and are happening in the now. People who espouse the venom of hate, who deny what happened, and there is more than enough evidence, are ostriches, somehow refusing to view their own bias, and hate filled lenses. They cannot see for the dark clouds that block their way. It seems the world is filled again with anti semitism, and you are right. It never fully disappears, it just goes under, and comes out again,and again. I think it's got to be time for a brand new story, or why is this happening. Why does history keep repeating in endless eddying cycles, and when it LOVE going to be the answer? I think Purim's story is profound and it's a story that turns on the most astounding coincidence, so it does seem throughout, that G_d was so visibly in the wings. If G_d is in the wings, then may G_d please find a way out of this hatred for once and for all. A story about masks and identity, could surely be also a story that is setting the "stage" for something else. In English Purim backwards has the echo of I'm pure. Obviously tikkun olam has got to be the answer, but how do you get those who hate, to "eat" their all consuming words and change, so they move forwards into a new era of humane consciousness?
(8) Tiferet, March 6, 2012 9:45 PM
"Not in these days"
This is a close guess, but the situation is more like Mitzraim. And as the final redemption is what we are going towards, the current situation is obviously the build up to this. You ask: Where is the joy of Adar .......... Harvard? No, it is in Eretz Yisrael. Where is the outrage? Well, certainly not with us! As we well know that anger is an avera. Where are the rallies, letter writing campaigns, protests, sit-ins? -these are all American ideas, learned and taken up in America and now spreading all over the world. Come back all you true Jews. A Jew is safe in Eretz Yisrael. Can we explain the Fogel incident? Is there an explanation for the 3 month old baby that had it's first yartzeit this morning. Yes there is an explanation but I can't tell you what it is. Where is the Schinah now? It has returned to Eretz Yisrael. Where is our protection. Only in Israel, now. Where is the economy doing well? There will be miracles for the Jews. And message after message has been sent to come back. Remember, but don't forget to come back so that we won't have to remember again. Tiferet
(7) Margarita Flores, March 6, 2012 8:11 PM
This is the time to gather ourselves in fast and prayer as once proclamed Queen Esther for his people Israel. If your G-d is the Almighthy the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob you should be fasting and praying.
(6) Tuvia Dovid, March 6, 2012 6:52 PM
Overstatements, misstatements and misunderstandings
Certainly Purim stands for the eternal vigilance we must exercise to sustain and be worthy of our continued survival as individuals and as committed Jews, but this Jeremaiad overstates and misstates our current circumstances and promotes misunderstandings of our current circumstances. In the time of Haman the Jewish population was much smaller and virtually all Jews lived under the rule of Persia. Whatever the failings of Europe and the Americas, none of the governments in those regions is remotely close to that of Achashverosh or Hitler. The creepy candidate in Chicago is an anomaly so absurd that no significant political party will claim him. Even the alternative worst-case nuclear scenarios, an attack by Israel or an Iranian bomb, fall far short of what the Nazis perpetrated or what Haman nearly achieved. We cannot expect to survive by hunkering down in xenophobia in Israel or any other one place in the world to the exclusion of all others. So long as we maintain active, full-throated Jewish principals wherever we live, engage fully in the civic and cultural and political as well as the moral life of our communities, treat others as we wish to be treated and do not do unto others what we would not want done unto us, we are certain to thrive as the Torah and our sages have promised. Ken y'hi ratzon, may this be Gd's will.
Leah, March 6, 2012 11:51 PM
response to Tuvia Dovid
Tuvia Dovid, I fear that you may have misread what the headlines are saying around the world. I believe that you have a statement that echos the very thing that Rabbi Efrem Goldberg is trying to convey here. You stated getting involved in the civic, cultural and political and moral life of our communities...we are certain to thrive etc. Tuvia: That is the very thing that unfortunately many jews did in Germany up til the time of the holocaust. In fact,when many of them went into the gas chambers they were saying that they were good German citizens and that they were cultured etc... they relied on this type of nonsense. Many of the cultural, political, religious and community standards that you espouse to follow are the very issues which no jew would seriously want to follow because they may be the antithesis of what a jew should follow or believe in whole heartedly. It is hardly xenophobic when one maintains one's principles based soley on jewish dynamics. Our current circumstances you say have been overstated by Rabbi Goldberg. Achmadinejad makes his desired goal very clear- every day! You state that during the Persian rule, the Jewish Community was much smaller and the jews lived in one area. fast forward a few thousand years later. Jews live in many more countries and Persia- the very same enemy has made weapons that can reach a majority of jews. The loss of any jew is horrible, let alone a potential majority. A potential attack by Achmadinejad is right up there with what Hitler did. The difference is that Hitler and his soldiers had a little value in life- their own lives. Achmadinejad's leader Khomeini stated, "The Iranian People are but a small price to pay in acheiving our goals- the wipeout of the State of Israel and then the Great Satan- The West." His buiding of WMD's and his lack of value of life, Tuvia make him far worse than Hitler, Stalin and the rest of the evil loving bunch. His goal is to destroy the entire world.
Lea, March 7, 2012 12:34 AM
Reply to Tuvia Dovid
You are the picture of what he is talking about in this article. I believe Jews in Europe had this mindset as well and ignored the warnings about Hitler. No one believed Hitler could accomplish what he did in the beginning. Jews cannot afford to sleep - there is real danger if Iran goes nuclear.
RivkaD, March 7, 2012 1:59 AM
We are not meant to be contented in galus
Tuvia, your closing statement sounds exactly like what the Jews of Germany told themselves as Hitler was rising to power. "So long as we maintain active, full-throated Jewish principles wherever we live, engage fully in the civic and cultural and political as well as the moral life of our communities, treat others as we wish to be treated and do not do unto others what we would not want done unto us, we are certain to thrive as the Torah and our sages have promised." Haven't you noticed the rise of hate crimes directed against Jews in many countries of the world? The Torah never meant for us to be happy and settled in galus - im tishchak Yerushalayim, ken tishchak yemini. We are promised that as long as we continue assimilated lives vs Torah centered lives, the nations of the world will be against us and we will be hounded from place to place. Do you seriously think that a nuclear bomb hitting Israel would be less destructive than Hitler was?? What's the current Jewish population of Israel? That's how many lives would be lost.
David J. Brien, March 7, 2012 7:48 AM
right on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuvia Dovid, Shalom! Couldn't have said it better,my self!! Right on!!!!!!!!! D.J.B. Vancouver,Canada.
AnneElizabeth, March 7, 2012 9:47 PM
Tuvia, ...so many agree with your well-written, insightful statement, ..which seemed to agree, rather than to disagree with the author of Purim Wake-up Call...both views were very inspiring to me...in short "to pray and live with Love until we break down the walls of "jericho"...first in our own hearts, then spreading out to our families, neighbors..so on and so forth....and follow the Will of our God, as He asks us to...let us remember David, Gideon and so many other similar incidents...and remember when the pharoes army were drowned, and His saying to His people "why do you cheer? these are also My children." (loose quote)...so, although we will all be persecuted severely..both Jewish and Christian...what is He asking us? Be His Children...follow His Law made in Love for Us....and if we all live, pray and love like He asks, He will lead us...together...as one...in Him....very HARD to do...but who said life was not so? So Thank you Tuvia and thank all our brothers and sisters who responded to both of these wonderful articles
(5) ElizabethAnne, March 6, 2012 4:17 PM
Israel and U.S.
Thank You for this wonderful insightful article...and wake-up call! I am a Catholic American, who is one of millions "heart-to-heart with our Jewish brothers and sisters..and you have described here, in your piece the very heart of our troubles...as Americans, as Israelies, as Jewish and as Christians....so together, heart in heart, in our Lord's own Heart, let us sing together "Hear Oh Israel, the Lord our God is One....until the walls of Jericho (evil) fall down!! We are with you in our Love and Support ans Prayers...please keep us in yours..Thank You!
(4) John Rodgers, March 6, 2012 3:59 PM
Thank you Rabbi Goldberg
As was Haman not satisfied with all he had because of just one man,Mordecia, not bowing his knee to him; the world can not stand for one small country who will not bow it's knee.
(3) Efraim, March 6, 2012 2:49 PM
I agree with Yaakov....
We must strengthen the jewish communities in all cities on the globe. May Moshiach come soon! Amen. There are many sonim in the universities and elsewhere that speak out against the jews. Also this evil naturei karta is not a great help to us.
(2) Edith Ognall, March 6, 2012 2:16 PM
We need you here in Israel
Everything you say is absolutely true but my feelings are that as throughout history, Jews have forsaken Eretz Yisrael to live in Galut so they do now and I cannot help thinking that our problems would not exist as they do now if as Hashem called for, all the Jews were gathered from the 4 corners of the earth to live in His Land. It is my feeling that if the Rabonim made the first move, their congregants would follow. Our people especially in Israel still see themselves as Grasshoppers and the Goyim/enemy as giants which is the only reason I can think of that we have only won Battles but never the War. Our mentality is still in Galut and until that changes, we will never change the way the Goyim think of us, although I could not care less what they think. Once we show that we are a People of faith and courage, all else will fall into place and Hashem will never again hide his face from us.
(1) Yaakov Novograd, March 5, 2012 4:51 PM
Thank you.
Thanks for reminding me to stay awake! This past Shabbos morning, I approached a prominent Rabbi who "awakened" me as he addressed this alarming topic in his sermon, and with his encouragement I then convinced a community leader to see if the council of our city's Rabbis would issue a call for a citywide gathering for public prayer and "chizuk." Fortunately, the head of the rabbinical council assured us that such an effort is already underway. Meanwhile, as the above-mentioned Rabbi concluded, we must act as Mordechai and Esther did, and -- no matter what's going on -- continue pursuing true goodness and peace, as stated in the last sentence of Megillas Esther.