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The Guardian
13-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Purim is not a celebration of slaughter, but of survival against attempted genocide
Peter Beinart's claims that the festival of Purim somehow demonstrates a Jewish embrace of zealotry and is an example of 'the evil that Jews commit', (11 March) is an insidious attempt to cast Jewish history and identity as heartless and vengeful. Purim is not a celebration of retribution or slaughter, but of survival against attempted genocide. The Book of Esther repeatedly emphasises that even when the Jews of Persia were finally granted the right to take up arms against those across the empire of its day who sought their destruction, they took no spoils, precisely because they were motivated not by a desire for revenge or the thrill of conquest, but by self-defence. Indeed, this is why Purim is observed to this day without reference to military prowess or vengeance, but with charity for the poor, gifts of food and special meals. Beinart's astonishing attempt to present the origin of Purim as an expression of blood lust and religious zeal for the downfall of our enemies is utterly baseless and a misappropriation of the true meaning of Purim. In fact, there are many examples in Jewish tradition of precisely the opposite principle: that we may never revel in the suffering of others, even if we ourselves have previously suffered at their hands. The atrocities of 7 October and the consequent war in Gaza have caused immense human suffering, including for many innocent Palestinian civilians. The Jewish communities that I engage with around the UK and across the world are acutely aware of that fact and we long for a day when Israelis and Palestinians can live alongside one another in peace. The suggestion that we are oblivious to such suffering is false and offensive. But the implication that Jews might actively turn away from it precisely because of our Judaism crosses the line from provocative opinion journalism into hateful Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis London
Boston Globe
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Antisemitism is growing worse on the left. And on the right.
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up But for how long? The book ends with disaster averted and Mordecai and Esther enjoying royal favor. Yet Ahasuerus — as vainglorious, amoral, and mercurial as ever — remains firmly on the throne. What assurance do Persia's Jews have that the capricious king who first endorsed genocide and then countermanded it isn't going to reverse course again? One of the timeless lessons of Purim and the Book of Esther is that when society is ruled by depraved or unstable people, no one is safe — especially not vulnerable or vilified minorities like the Jews. Advertisement Again and again across the centuries, Jewish communities that believed themselves secure and welcome woke up to find themselves targeted by haters. Ten or 15 years ago it was still possible to believe that 21st-century America could never succumb to such antisemitic frenzy. But anyone with eyes to see knows better now. In the wake of Oct. 7, 2023, Jew-hatred that was once confined to the fringes has spread toward the mainstream. Advertisement It is rare now to see a synagogue that doesn't employ armed guards to keep worshipers safe. Jewish schools have had to Antisemitic attitudes both sides. For many years it was an article of faith among liberals, including liberal Jews, that antisemitism in America was Republican leaders, to both their credit and their political advantage, have focused a spotlight on the eruption of antisemitic speech and demonstrations at Unfortunately, too many conservatives and Republicans are making the mistake that partisans on the left used to make and refusing to acknowledge that antisemitism on their side of the aisle remains a serious problem. During the 2024 campaign, Advertisement Yet the same administration that is targeting Columbia for tolerating antisemitism has just elevated a Pentagon spokesperson, Kingsley Wilson, who has The Book of Esther opens with the description of an opulent party hosted by Ahasuerus — a party, the Talmudic sages taught, to which the cream of Persian Jewry was invited. The Jews of that era imagined that their position was secure, only to learn how quickly their stability could collapse once the air was poisoned with antisemitism. For Jews, vigilance is always imperative. From Haman to Hitler to Hamas and its supporters, To subscribe to Arguable, Jeff Jacoby's weekly newsletter, visit . Jeff Jacoby can be reached at
