Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a greeting on the Jewish holiday of Purim on Sunday, saying that the holiday’s message of triumph over genocidal enemies held an enduring relevance for Israel’s military battles today.
Purim is based on the story in the Book of Esther, in which the Jews are saved from destruction in ancient Persia. An evil royal adviser, Haman, is outraged when a Jewish leader named Mordechai refuses to bow to him. Haman tells King Achashverosh to order all the Jews executed on a date chosen by lottery (or “Pur” — the source of the holiday’s name). Esther, the Jewish queen (and Mordechai’s cousin), intervenes to convince the king to hang Haman instead.
Videos of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers reciting the Book of Esther — the “Megillah” — in Gaza in observance of Purim went viral on social media on Sunday, such as a group of…
