By Esther Korson<\/p>\n
Yep, it\u2019s that time of year again when we celebrate as a nation and as a people the miracle of our salvation from the hands of Haman and Persia, centuries ago, thanks to the intervention of Esther.\u00a0 It\u2019s truly a joyous holiday, where people dress up in costumes and give food parcels to one another.\u00a0 The Scroll of Esther is read aloud in the synagogues.\u00a0 People bring noisemakers with them, and whenever the name of \u201cHaman\u201d is mentioned, people make a racket and \u2018Boo!\u2019 loudly.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fun time in every way!<\/p>\n
But wait just a minute here!\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that supposed to be an ancient holiday? A victory from long ago?\u00a0 Then why does it sound so eerily familiar?\u00a0 Didn\u2019t we just capture a shipment of missiles that was supposed to endanger the heart of our population centers?\u00a0 Aren\u2019t we threatened by annihilation by yet another Persian regime?\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t it just yesterday that 70 rockets were fired at our southern cities?\u00a0 Don\u2019t we have a huge population within our very borders who refuses to recognize our right to exist\u2014as a Jewish homeland for the Jewish people?\u00a0 Don\u2019t we still have enemies on every border who would love to see us simply disappear?<\/p>\n