The world shudders as it considers the consequences of a nuclear Iran, a country whose leaders still brazenly call for the destruction of Israel.
At a crucial time like this, it behooves us to find precedent in our People's history for such a showdown. It’s remarkable to discover that indeed, twenty two hundred years ago, during the Purim story, the ancient Iranians (the Persians) threatened to annihilate the entire Jewish People in one single day!
Haman’s decree then was arguably the most difficult moments of our nation's history. What did they do then to turn the situation around? What can we learn from them to apply today, as we face modern day Persia’s calls for our destruction?
The Talmud reveals to us that the root of the evil decree upon the Jews was that they rejected G-d by enjoying the feast of the King Achashverosh (King Xerxes), which was a wild celebration of his conquest over all nations, including Hashem. It was only after the Jews humbled themselves before G-d, through three intensive days of fasting, that they reconciled with their Father in Heaven and succeeded in procuring the miraculous salvation which has become the Purim story we celebrate to this day.
How similar is our situation today! We too have placed our trust in politicians and armies that will come to our aid at our time of need, instead of trusting in G-d. As in ancient Persia, this approach has not been a wise course for the Jews.
But the key to our salvation lies in our hands!
If we have the vision and clarity to recognize that it is not a Secretary of State or any leader of the P5+1 who holds the key to our security, but Hashem our Father in heaven, we will be able to achieve the same result as we did in ancient Persia.
By Divine Providence, this Sunday is a major fast day for our People. Tisha B'Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, being the date on which both the First and Second Temples were destroyed and millions were massacred, raped and exiled. We fast on this day in order to reconcile with our Maker.
Let's seize the opportunity of the fast of Tisha B'Av to really fast, rather than merely avoid eating. If we can focus our lack of food on the true source of our lives, a brief and powerful meditation will inspire us to Teshuva, to reconnect with Hashem and thus bring redemption and salvation to our nation as it did just twenty two centuries ago in Persia!