WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING? By Baruch Cohon
Joining in our backyard Purim celebration this year was an interesting guest, born Catholic but now identifying himself as Jewish, married to a Jewish wife and enjoying traditional observance. After the Megillah reading, and a few Purim “l’chaims” he and I had quite a long conversation which started with his question, clearly prompted by the story of Esther, Haman, Mordechai & co.: Why is it still happening? After all these centuries! Why is the Jewish people still a target that so many different enemies try to destroy?
I told him frankly that I have no answer. Quoting Tevye, we can always ask the parallel question: “I know we’re the chosen people, but once in a while couldn’t you choose someone else?” But obviously that is not an answer.
What we definitely can realize, in today’s world, is the reason our current enemies – from Khamenei to Farrakhan – call for “DEATH TO ISRAEL!” For them, the State of Israel is a symbol of the Jewish people. Their hatred is not really political; it’s ethnic, it’s religious, it’s economic. It’s just another expression of the bloodthirsty rage of Pharaoh, of Haman, of Nebuchadnezzar, of Caesar, Torquemada, Chmelnitzky, Hitler.
No, my friend, it’s not an answer to your question. Truly, why IS it still happening?
One of these days, maybe, with G-d’s help a brilliant mind will find the answer. And then we can expect a better future.
“Hall’vye!”
Rabbi Baruch Cohon