In the story of the Megillah Esther, we learn how an evil Haman tried to murder the Jews out of his jealousy of Mordechai. We learn how Mordechai coached his relative Esther to keep her Jewish identity secret. Thus when she reveal her Jewish identity, she is able to save the Jews of Persia from the rampage of hate and violence that Haman had planned.
In modern times we see the hatred of Haman revisited in the actions of Iran against the Jewish people. But the relationships between Iran and Israel are complicated and intertwined. Once close allies, they were divided when a radical regime took over.
When I first went to Israel in 1972, Israel and Iran were close allies. One of my relatives, a veterinarian, was living in Tehran as he was teaching at the veterinary school. When the current radical Islamic regime took over, all the Israelis had to flee. We all know what happened to the Americans who did not escape in time. They were taken hostages. In fact, it was the American hostage crisis in Iran that is considered by many to be the reason President Carter did not get reelected. In the background, Carter administration arranged for the 52 hostages to be released before he left office. However, the hostages were not released by the Iranians until after President Reagan took office.
Just have to say: Iran and hostages; Hamas and hostages. Citizens of the USA should have been more understanding about the Israeli hostages since we had lived through a similar horror. But then those who did the most protesting, the college students, did not know about what happened between 1979- 1981. They were ignorant of the history.
The people of Iran have lived with this radical Islamic regime for almost 50 years. Throughout the time, besides the social issues facing the Iranian women, Iran has continued its crusade to destroy Israel and kill Jews throughout the world. This was done instead of building up the infrastructure of Iran. The regime has spent its money on weapons and supporting its agents of war, the terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Iran now has limited water, Tehran has been close to running out of water for years, and a water system is not working and decaying. The economy is destroyed because of sanctions and so much money spent on violence and war, especially after the 12-day war with Israel, with Israel being victorious.
Now times are changing. The people of Iran are standing up and demanding regime change. There has been violence by the regime against its citizens. There are reports of ten of thousands being murder, even more injured and many of the protestors thrown into prison. Those who support Hamas and terrorists are not speaking out against the horrors enacted by the Islamic regime. Instead, they continue to blame Israel. Why? Perhaps because the people who they are supporting are Hamas and they are paid for my Iran.
When the CNN biased news reporter Christiane Amapour asked Reza Pahlavi about his visit and support of Israel in recent interview, his response supported Israel.
“There are only two nations on this planet that can claim a biblical relationship with one another: Israel and Iran,” he said. He then discussed Cyrus the Great, who helped in freeing the Jews from Babylon and rebuilding the Temple. He stated strongly that Israel and Iran can walk together to stablize the Middle East and build peace. Finally, that Iran needs water because water is life. And Israel is the country that can help Iran develop its water resources.
For those who do not know the history of Cyrus the Great, after he conquered Persia he ended the Babylonian Captivity of the Jewish people and allowed them to return to Israel to build the second Temple. In the Book of Isaiah, Cyrus the Great is called a messiah, an annointed one because of his deeds. He was revered by the Jewish people. In the book of Ezra he is quoted: “All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord, the God of heaven, given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”
Which leads back to the retelling of what happened in Persia during the time of Purim. The king of Persia was Xerxes, the grandson of Cyrus the Great. And Xerxes is believed by many scholars to be King Ahasuerus..
As we read the Megillah Esther this year, let us think about what is happening in the Middle East. Let us hope and pray that as Reza Pahlavi believes, Israel and Iran can soon work together in peace. And those whose intent is to harm Israel will be eliminated as was Haman and his family, but I hope also in a more peaceful manner.
zicharonot 