At Purim we remember the genocide that was averted. Traditional Jews do it via ritual described in minute detail. Tell the story just so; presents for friends just so; donate to the needy just so. What a great way to avoid reflecting on how it must have felt being a person going through that. Today I want to point out what Esther and Mordechai did to turn the tide and prevent that genocide. They acted with integrity. They made friends with key characters. They used psychological strategies. They used armed force strategically, as a final resort, and within limits. They won the PR battle months before the day that knives were drawn. And they were aided by a hidden hand.
I hope that my people don’t have to face that threat any time soon. Some people are facing it, now. They aren’t necessarily empowered to protect themselves and their loved ones. Miracles fail to materialise.
The Aegis Trust are trying to help prevent genocide.