By Leah Garber
Purim is in the air. The sun shines brightly, and together with everyone, it tries with all its might to don a holiday costume and celebrate—to mark, despite everything, the ancient Purim miracle. In the fifth century BCE, in Shushan, the capital of Persia, Haman the Persian decreed to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—in a single day. The decree was annulled, and what was meant to be a day of mass slaughter instead became a day of joy for generations.
Twenty-five hundred years later, in the sovereign State of Israel, clouds of destruction still hover above us. Just as Haman called us “a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples, whose laws are different from every other people,” the ancient hatred of Jews has not disappeared.
Since Shabbat morning, millions of Israelis have endured relentless missile attacks aimed directly at civilian populations. We have run to shelters and safe rooms dozens of times, each instance like Russian roulette—the fear of direct, fatal impact, real and visceral. Small children tremble at the piercing sound of sirens, having learned far too early what it means to drop everything and run for cover, their innocence stolen by warnings they cannot yet comprehend.
Ten Israelis have already been killed, including three siblings who were struck directly in the shelter where they sought safety together with a mother, her daughter, and five others. Hundreds of Israelis have been wounded; hundreds more have lost their homes.
Once again, the rhythm of daily life is shattered. Once again, we find ourselves confined to our homes or staying close to protected spaces. Workplaces and schools are closed; only essential services remain open.
In a combined operation of historic significance, the United States and Israel have shouldered the burden on behalf of the entire free world to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat—an extreme and dangerous menace that loomed not only over Israel but over the Iranian people themselves, a proud nation whose citizens suffer under brutal tyranny, and all the peoples of the Middle East and beyond. Our hearts ache for the six American soldiers killed by Iranian missiles targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East. They were brave souls who stood in defence of freedom and paid the ultimate price.
This is a necessary and just strike, designed first and foremost to secure regional stability and a safer future. It carries Israel’s complete and unified support, with every party in parliament and the entire population standing as one. We are a people known for resilience, repeatedly finding ourselves on the frontlines absorbing blow after blow. Yet we are willing to endure, knowing that this time, the combined forces will neutralize the ongoing threat and open the door to a different future between Israel and the Iranian people. We anticipate it to be bright and full of promise, restoring the peace that existed before Khomeini and the Revolutionary Guards seized power.
Meanwhile, Israeli aircraft roar in the skies above day and night, each one accompanied by our profound gratitude and fervent prayers for a safe return. We pray for the American forces standing shoulder to shoulder with us, and for the courage and protection of all who defend freedom.
And today, on this holiday when we traditionally carry mishloach manot, gifts of food to friends and neighbors as a small gesture of care embodying the deep bonds of mutual responsibility, sirens pierce the air repeatedly, interrupting these very acts of connection and kindness.
Yet the spirit of Purim persists.
To preserve joy for our children, costume-clad Israelis gathered in underground parking lots and subway stations for communal readings of Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) and holiday celebrations. What could be more surreal than welcoming into our home safe room a complete stranger, caught mid-delivery of mishloach manot when the sirens wailed, seeking shelter alongside us? Like him, across Israel’s streets, in hundreds of cities and towns, neighbors are opening doors to strangers, huddling together in shared, safe spaces—until the next alarm.
Israel 2026. Twenty-five-hundred years after the original Purim story, our strength remains in our solidarity as one people, bound by mutual responsibility and unbreakable bonds. We hold fast to the hope that the Purim miracle of Mordechai and Esther’s time will manifest once more and that in the eternal struggle between light and darkness, light will prevail.
Still, we wish each other a happy holiday. Chag Purim sameach.
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To equip you with timely, strategic context, we are pleased to offer an exclusive webinar for the JCC Movement, featuring Avi Melamed.
The Second Iran War: Current Dynamics and Possible Trajectory
Thursday, March 5, at 2 p.m. ET
Avi Melamed is an independent Middle East strategic intelligence analyst and founder of Inside the Middle East. This briefing will provide a grounded, nonpartisan context to help you lead responsibly and speak with confidence as this ongoing situation evolves.
Leah Garber is a senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of its Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.