Draw hope for Ukraine from Biblical story of courageous Queen Esther

Men, women and children die in Ukraine as we watch the reports throughout the day on cable news.

How one man can exercise such unbridled power and wantonly destroy a nation is beyond my comprehension. Unfortunately, we have seen in modern times such barbarous and bloodthirsty autocrats from Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and the list goes on.

The current situation reminds me of another despot long ago in Biblical times. This week the Jewish world is focused on the Biblical Book of Esther, because we celebrate the holiday of Purim.

This book does not mention God, yet one wonders if God is really working behind the scenes. It is a book that shows how individuals can speak truth to power and challenge one man determined to destroy the Jewish people.

His name was Haman, and he was the No. 2 man in the court to the Persian King Ahasuerus. Purim takes its name from the lots (“purim” in Hebrew) that the villain Haman casts to choose the 13th day of the Jewish calendar month of Adar as the date for a massacre.

In the story, a Jewish woman named Esther became the king’s wife, although she did not initially reveal to him that she was Jewish. Her cousin, Mordecai, had become known to the king for revealing a plot by palace guards to assassinate him. One day when Mordecai was in the street, the wicked Haman and his entourage passed by and announced that everyone should bow down to Haman. Mordecai refused, for he could only bow down to God and not to any human being.

Haman was so insulted by Mordecai’s behavior that he plotted to convince the king to allow him to destroy the entire Jewish population in Persia. Once Esther got wind of the plot — together with Mordecai — they planned to expose his treachery and genocidal aspirations. This meant that she ultimately revealed herself as a Jewish woman to her husband.

As a result of her bravery and courage, Esther, along with Mordecai, convinced the king that Haman should be punished. He was hung by the gallows, and the Jewish community was saved from annihilation.

To this day, Jewish congregations celebrate the heroism of Mordecai and Esther by dressing up in costumes and reading from the Book of Esther in synagogue services. Over the centuries, the story became a holiday where Jewish communities celebrated and even made fun of all the characters of the story.

How ironic that they used humor to deflect the potential horror from such a historic event where one man’s will almost succeeded in committing genocide.

Do Haman and Putin have a lot in common? They both have no conscience about destroying an entire people and taking the lives of the innocent just because they can.

I am praying, on the one hand, for a cease fire and for responsible negotiations to end this war. I don’t see, on the other hand, anything wrong with prayers for the Esthers and Mordecais of Ukraine who refuse to bow down to Putin. I pray for them to hold onto their inner strength to protect themselves and their homes as well as their nation.

The Psalmist can speak to the spirit we need and what the Ukrainian people may yearn for, which is to sustain themselves at this hour.

“This God — his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? — the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.” (Psalm 18:30-33).

The Book of Esther reminds us that individuals really can make a difference. Mordecai and Esther saved their people. The Ukrainians are fighting every day to save their people.

Pray for the peace of Ukraine and for the strength that their people must summon from within their spirits to prevail through these dark times. May we in America, and even in Beaufort County, do our part to join this sacred mission to preserve life not just praying but giving resources to support refugees.

As it is written in the Talmud, “As long as there is life there is hope.”

Let us be on the side of hope for Ukraine.