There are no coincidences in this world. Everything that happens went exactly as planned and, in many cases, the themes and storylines rhyme over generations.

It is no surprise that Ayatollah Khamenei—this generation’s Haman—was finally put down on Shabbos Zachor where the Jewish people are instructed to remember what Amalek did as we left Egypt. The spirit of Amalek, the archetypal enemy of the Jewish people, will never die unless and until Moshiach comes. So in every generation, we make it a point to remember Amalek and to identify him to ensure his defeat. For Khamenei to face justice when he did was nothing short of perfection.

And so was the date in which he did meet his end: 11 Adar. The first Mishnah of Tractate Megillah makes plain that the first plausible date that the Jewish people can read Megillas Esther is on 11 Adar. There, the Jewish people recall the legendary heroics of Mordechai and Queen Esther in exposing Haman’s plot to exterminate the Jews in the Persian Empire. Queen Esther combined diplomacy, strategy, thoughtful communal prayer, and uncompromising faith in G-d to exact vengeance on the Amalek of her time to serve as a blue print for the Jews of the Diaspora to defeat the Amalek of their time. So of course Khamenei was liquidated on the first possible date on which the Jewish people can read the Megillah. We needed to see the Purim story come to life again. And today, our Purim celebrations feel even more realistic than ever before!

Which then calls the next question: Where do the United States of America fall into this equation? This, too, is simple. The United States was founded upon the very structures that the Jewish people brought to the world through both the Written and Oral Torah. But-for Jewish law and morality, there would be no Christianity and there would be no basis to regulate morality premised on One G-d who judges us for our conduct in the physical world. Whereas all other nations before the United States were created by idol worshippers and manufactured feudal systems, our country was founded on a G-dly principle that we are all created equal and should be subject to the same laws as everyone else regardless of social status, religion, race, etc. That is not to say the United States has been (or is) perfect in that pursuit. But we were founded as a more perfect union to strive toward those lofty goals.

These goals, indeed, threatened the Ayatollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran for 47 years. Since its inception, this theocratic government waged war against the United States through terrorist proxies, through using its forces to kill our soldiers and Marines, and through infesting our educational systems through tools of indoctrination that poisoned the minds of well-meaning kids. To them, “Death to America” was their priority because Iran knew that freedom as defined by the most powerful and the most successful nation in the world undermined their claims of legitimate authority under their bastardized interpretations of Shia Islam. And after 47 years of kicking the can down the road (or in the most egregious of cases, outright appeasement in the form of giving them billions in sanctions relief and a tacit approval of their diabolical nuclear ambitions), the United States finally said “no more” to the longest standing forever war since the Cold War itself. And in defanging Iran as they have, the United States not only exposed the banality of those abroad who support this evil, but it also exposed the weaknesses of the Europe and of many pundits in the United States who tremble at the idea of America exerting its power.

And yes, the State of Israel did the world (and the United States) a great service in ending the Ayatollah. Our country is far better off with competent allies that can hold their own and help the United States further its causes. And to assume that our government is “paid off” by these “cabals” and “underground organizations” is to lack faith in G-d that justice will prevail or in His plan to ensure that the righteous nations will do said righteous acts. If you do believe that the United States is a force for good, then it stands to reason that the United States did good in facilitating the end of evil regimes that would otherwise want to destroy us. Any argument to contrary merely exposes the lack of profound faith, conviction, and trust that one has in these master plans.

Glory to the Iranian martyrs who opened the door to their freedom. May they walk through them gleefully.

May G-d bless and protect the Israel Defense Forces in defense of my brothers and sisters in Israel as they continue their existential fight agaist this evil.

And most importantly: May G-d bless and protect the United States Armed Forces as they enact swift justice against the modern Amalekites. The memories of our soldiers shall not be forgotten. And world Jewry should remember them for how they remembered this generation’s Amalek.

Purim Sameach to all!

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)