What just one person can do in a time of ‘existential crisis’
Instead of betrayal or collaboration, Esther rises to the occasion . . . of her Jewish identity. She chooses her people.
. . . it’s just too dangerous.”
While we are concerned with ‘the what and the how’ Haman was able to carry out his ‘final solution for the Jews’ in such a short period of time –the Esther story is primarily concerned with what any one individual can do (at any given moment in time) and that is what truly matters.
Discovering an unknown place of bravery within — while standing in a place of imminent and existential danger. Please note: this is not the last time this will reoccur in Jewish history.
Mordechai reminds her of who she is — and what just one person can do — even in the face of extreme adversity.
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I am adding down below a snippet from Danny Gordis reflecting on America’s highest Jewish political officeholder, weighing in on an American ally’s elected leader of a democratically elected government — by either calling for his removal (interesting) or in calling for new elections (which is a rather coded shibboleth, to say the least).
Interfering in foreign elections is not new to American political institutions or individuals, but it is somewhat hypocritical and certainly unseemly (possibly illegal, although here, only time will tell). The bottom line is that Schumer is acting in the time-honored role of “Court Jew” and in doing so, he has just helped Bibi Netanyahu to solidify his power base and maintain his hold on the government.
An interesting note of the Speech that is ‘of concern’ to the Jewish people writ large: One specific concern that the statement raised about Schumer’s speech was his warning that the United States could use “leverage” against Israel during the Jewish state’s time of need.
And then this . . .
After being praised by the WH along with a litany of Democratic Leadership, Senator Schumer appeared before the Conference of American Jewish Presidents and sought to explain his speech in Senate Chambers: He claims his need to articulate and speak out arose from his Jewish Neshama (one might even say. his Jewish conscience). To the conference, his explanation fell short, with enough evidence to suggest that this speech was, at the very least, coordinated out of the Biden White House, and with a high probability, both prompted and cajoled ‘from within.’
Jewish Insider: A source familiar with the meeting between Schumer and the Conference of Presidents told JI that Schumer discussed why he decided to give the speech and elaborated on his views. He told the group that “you can still love Israel and feel strongly about Israel, and totally disagree with Bibi Netanyahu and the policies of Israel” and that “this is part of my core, my soul, my neshama.”
Gordis reporting on the reaction of Israelis in Israel: THURSDAY (03/21): If Chuck Schumer needs to get business cards printed up any time in the near future, he should probably add “Chief of Bibi Re-election Campaign.” Most Israelis have had it with Netanyahu, but they are incensed at Schumer’s trying to meddle in our internal political system (even if they agree with Schumer’s assessment of the PM). Biden and Schumer are trying to punish Bibi, but they’re actually boosting him, because they don’t begin to understand Israeli society. Might Bibi make it politically? It’s less unthinkable than it was not long ago . . .
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Here’s the Jewish reaction . . .
The discontent from top Jewish communal organizations over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) Israel speech last week hasn’t subsided. After Schumer spoke with the leadership of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Tuesday afternoon, the group put out a tough statement criticizing his Senate speech that, it argued, ended up empowering Israel’s enemies.
“The pro-Israel community and our membership continue to have deep reservations about Senator Schumer’s speech on the Senate floor last week regarding impediments to peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” the group’s CEO, William Daroff, and its chair, Harriet Schleifer, said in a statement.
“We believe that at a time when Israel is fighting an existential war, on the embers of the 1200 innocents massacred on October 7th, it is not a time for public criticisms that serve only to empower the detractors of Israel, and which foster greater divisiveness, when unity is so desperately needed.”
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All of this amid an existential war — not just of Israel and the Nations — but of the Jewish people.
On this Shabbat of Remembering — Am Yisrael Chai — We Live
Because in Truth: Never Again is Now.
