Today is Purim, the holiday that commemorates events in the ancient Persian Empire between 486-465 BCE, during the reign of King Ahasuerus—often identified with Xerxes I or Artaxerxes I. The entire story unfolds in the very land we now know as Iran.

Once again, Jewish history feels as though it is repeating itself. Sad, but true. Another chapter is being written, in which we find ourselves defending ourselves against powerful forces that openly speak of our destruction. In the days of Esther and Mordechai, the existential threat came from ancient Persia. Today, that same geography—modern‑day Iran—stands at the center of a new and frightening conflict.

It’s exhausting to witness how often Jews become the target of hatred across centuries and continents. And yet, here we are again, confronting a familiar pattern that refuses to fade from the world’s story. The geography has changed names, but the pattern has not.

Another difference, beyond the passage of time, is the hope that someday an uplifting story will be told about the current conflict as well.

Jewish survival in the face of an existential threat

Courage in the face of power

Reversal of fate (venahafoch hu)

Purim is a joyful holiday commemorating the moment when Haman—the official who sought to eliminate the Jews because Mordechai refused to bow to him—was ultimately destroyed.

Haman’s decree to eradicate the Jews echoes modern Iranian leadership’s eliminationist rhetoric toward Israel.

Some commentators have noted the symbolic timing of Khamenei’s death during the 2026 strikes, calling it a modern echo of Haman’s downfall.

Intertwined in Purim’s themes are moments of existential danger that demanded courage under pressure.

These themes are being invoked directly in commentary about the current war. Our brave soldiers in both Israel and the United States are facing frightening hardships. May the memories of those already lost be a blessing to their families.

The Purim story centers on a moment when Jews in ancient Persia faced a state‑sanctioned plan for annihilation—and acted through Esther and Mordechai before the decree could be carried out. Same here.

Purim is a happy holiday, yet given that Israel—and now the United States—is also at war, it can feel wrong to celebrate. And yet, as Israelis huddle in a bomb shelter in the video above, they are still joyfully celebrating Purim. It’s inspiring.

Even in the middle of a war, Israelis found a way to celebrate Purim—not in the streets, not in community centers, but in a bomb shelter. The video above shows people singing, dancing, and laughing while sirens blare overhead. It’s surreal, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at once. This is what resilience looks like when joy becomes an act of defiance. When celebration becomes a declaration of life. When Purim’s ancient message—venahafoch hu, the turning of fear into courage—is lived in real time.

Watching them, you can feel both the fragility and the strength of the moment. They are literally underground, yet spiritually unshaken. They are dressed in costumes, but the danger outside is not pretend. And still, they choose to sing. They choose to dance. They choose to live.

If Purim teaches anything, it’s that even in the shadow of threat, the Jewish people insist on joy. They insist on community. They insist on hope. And in that shelter, with missiles in the sky and music in their voices, you can hear the quiet heartbeat of a nation saying the oldest truth we have: Am Yisrael Chai — the People of Israel Live.

Why did Israel and the United States act first?

Iran has been attacking the United States—directly and through proxies—for 47 years, beginning in 1979 and continuing without interruption into 2026. This isn’t a figure of speech; it is a documented, continuous pattern of hostile actions that US officials themselves describe as a “one‑sided war” waged by Iran against America.

Below is a clear, structured timeline showing how many years these attacks have spanned and the forms they have taken.

The span: 1979–2026 (47 years of attacks)

The modern Islamic Republic was founded in 1979, and from that moment forward, Iran has engaged in anti‑US violence, either directly or through proxy militias it funds, trains, and commands.

2. The forms of Iranian attacks on the US (1979–2026)

1979–1981: Hostage crisis (direct attack on US........

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