Rededicating Ourselves to Combatting Both Antisemitism and Assimilation: Reflections on Shabbat Zachor

Historically, the greatest threats to Jewish survival have been antisemitism and assimilation. The first quarter of the 21st century has been a moment when we are facing challenges to Jewish continuity from both of these forces at the same time.

Two of the most celebratory festivals on the Jewish calendar, Purim and Chanukah respectively, commemorate moments in which the Jewish People successfully defended against these forces. Both the Book of Esther and the Books of the Maccabees are stories of Jews successfully standing up to tyrants. Both books tell a story of overcoming threats to Jewish communal survival.

The Book of Esther, which we are commanded to re-read annually on the forthcoming festival of Purim, is the only book of the Bible in which God is not explicitly mentioned. (Though no name of God appears in Song of Songs, both Jewish and Christian commentators over the ages, see the entire book as an allegory of the love relationship between God and a covenantal People). The only mitzvot associated with Purim are the commands to hear the reading of the Scroll of Esther and to celebrate the victory over Haman. The heroes of the story, Esther and........

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