Esther

Purim: The Deeply Anti-Progressive Jewish Holiday

March 1, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech Leave a Comment

“The Banquet of Esther and Ahasuerus” by Jan Victors, 1640s.

Today is the holiday of Purim.

It is no accident that in 2015, Benjamin Netanyahu referenced Purim when delivering his powerful address to the U.S. Senate in an unsuccessful bid to curb Obama’s legitimization of a nuclear Iran.

Purim is an old ( 5th century B.C.E.) but painfully familiar story: A Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

In a speech that Jews recognize all too well, Haman tells the king, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people’s, and they do not observe the king’s laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them.” (Esther 3:8.)

The king places the fate of the Jews into the hands of Grand Vizier Haman.

Purim: The Deeply Anti-Progressive Jewish Holiday

March 13, 2017 by Robert J. Avrech Leave a Comment

Yesterday was the holiday of Purim.

And it was no accident that in 2015, Benjamin Netanyahu referenced Purim when delivering his powerful address to the U.S. Senate in an unsuccessful bid to curb Obama’s legitimization of a nuclear Iran.

Purim is an old ( 5th century B.C.E.) but painfully familiar story: A Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

Purim: The Deeply Anti-Progressive Jewish Holiday

March 24, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

Today is the holiday of Purim.

And it is no accident that Benjamin Netanyahu referenced Purim when delivering a powerful address to the U.S. Senate in an unsuccessful bid to curb Obama’s legitimization of a nuclear Iran.

Purim is an old ( 5th century B.C.E.) but agnonizingly familiar story: A Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

Purim: The Non-Progressive Jewish Holiday

March 13, 2014 by Robert J. Avrech 14 Comments

Today is the Fast of Purim which commemorates Esther’s three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with King Ahasuerus.

It’s an old ( 5th century B.C.E.) but agnonizingly familiar story: An intolerant Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

Purim: A Non Progressive Jewish Holiday

February 24, 2013 by Robert J. Avrech 15 Comments

Esther's banquet by Jan Victors, 1640. — Esther’s Banquet by Jan Victors, 1640.

Today the Jewish people celebrate the holiday of Purim.

It’s an old and familiar story: An intolerant Jew-hater named Haman hatches a plan to annihilate the Jewish people in the ancient kingdom of Persia.

That Genocide Thing. Again.

Most of the Jews in this multicultural Persian kingdom have been enlightened to the point where they enthusiastically attend royal feasts and gorge themselves off the golden plates and cups looted from the holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.