As we are coming upon one of my favorite Jewish holidays Purim, I am reminded of the fond memories I had growing up in a Jewish home celebrating this holiday with friends and family. Like every Jewish girl, I looked forward to dressing up like Queen Esther, eating Hamentaschen while playing a game that involved throwing bean bags at Haman’s face. If you don’t know who Haman was, he was the arch-enemy of the Jews in the book of Esther. At that time, I had no idea in my young mind the depth of the anti-Semitic roots that stemmed from this story. The annihilation and devastation of the Jews at that time could have been equal to that of the Holocaust, maybe even more.

The book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not include the name of God. However, what I love about this book, is even though God was silent, you see the overarching theme of His providence and protection over His people even while they were in exile. You even see His power that enabled Esther to go before the king with courage as she said,” if I perish, I perish.” The law then, was that nobody could enter into the inner court where the king was seated unless you were called. Otherwise, you would perish unless the king extended his scepter. Esther had the favor of God which moved the king to extend his scepter and it saved her life and eventually the life of her people, the Jews.

Esther went before the king a second time to revoke the decree that was sent forth by Haman to annihilate all the Jews in the 127 provinces, but when the king’s seal is on a decree it cannot be revoked. The king told Esther and Mordecai to write another decree, stamped and sealed with his signet ring. This decree would give every Jew the right to protect themselves. That meant they had the green light to kill and destroy all those who would try to kill them including women and children. This is not my interpretation or opinion, this is what the Bible clearly states in Esther 8:11.

As a Jew today, I can’t help but apply this story to the war against Israel that began on October 7th. I am horrified and disgusted that so many people, including some in the church, are standing against Israel especially from protecting themselves from their present-day enemy, Hamas. A good majority of these people are young adults. They have no knowledge of the Holocaust, they don’t want to know and are denying that there was even a Holocaust. Most won’t even do their due diligence in studying the timeline of the atrocities against Israel by these terrorist groups. They just go with the flow of the culture and/or by what the media dictates. They need our prayers!

I recently heard from a few people at different times, how some of their family members are against Israel. They think it is an evil thing that Israel is fighting back, that they are the ones that started this war. In addition, they think the Jews have some audacity in thinking they are God’s chosen. I want to address this topic soon because there’s been a lot of controversy over the subject of Israel being God’s chosen people.

There is a mocking and an absence of God’s heart toward His people Israel especially within the church. This shows me that they who don’t stand with Israel, don’t really know God nor study His Word. And, there’s still a lot of pride which opens you up to blindness. That’s a scary thing. That’s what happened with the Pharisees concerning Yeshua. Their pride made them so blind, they couldn’t even recognize their own Jewish Messiah.

Whether people like it or not, Israel is forever! Or as we say in Hebrew, “Am Israel Chai!” You can try to exterminate, curse and take us out, but we as a people, as God’s nation will never go away. Even in the book of Revelation, John saw the new Jerusalem descending from Heaven with a wall and gates that had the twelve tribes of Israel written on them. Plus, the twelve foundations were the twelve Jewish apostles of the Lamb (Rev 21:12-14).

Now am I saying that we as Jews are better than anybody? Certainly not! However, God had a plan and purpose when He created Israel as a nation. To say that God is done with Israel even by the church is saying that God is not faithful to His covenant with the Jews and even with Abraham. If that is the case, then we better take heed because what makes us think we are better than Israel and that God wouldn’t do away with us? Paul said in Romans 11:20-21, do not be haughty but fear. If God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

As we celebrate Purim, let us be reminded that God is still Protector over Israel, even through their disobedience. It is time that we as the church stand with Israel because in doing so, we are standing with God. And I don’t know about you, I want to be on His side. I don’t care what the world says, I don’t care what the church says. If you’re against Israel, you’re against God plain and simple. Let’s stand with Israel! For such a time as this!

Lastly, there will be no room for anti-Semitism in Heaven. God made it clear in Revelation, Israel is eternal, forever! Amen!

Blessings to you all and happy Purim!

Big hugs,

Ellen (Brucha)