Shalom, this is Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries.
This is our second celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim post-October 7, 2023. Israel is not yet at peace, and victory is still elusive. Hostages are still held, and though there are various attempts to deepen the truce to a lasting peace, an agreement is still difficult to achieve. Of course, both sides want complete victory. And so the negotiations will continue in the days and months ahead. We mourn for the innocent Israelis who have been murdered and the hostages who are still held in brutal conditions, and we grieve as well for the young Israeli soldiers who have lost their lives in serving their country. We care deeply about innocent Gazans who have suffered under the murderous and corrupt leadership of Hamas along with so many others, and we pray that they too would be released from slavery to this death cult.
We are about to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is the time of year when we remember that God still has His hand on the Jewish people despite difficult circumstances faced throughout the centuries: the Crusades, pogroms, the Holocaust, and now October 7, 2023. And yet, the Jewish people survive because God chose the Jewish people for a greater and glorious purpose. In light of this, may I take a few moments of your time to share the story of Purim to deepen your appreciation for all God is doing today to protect the Jewish people and encourage you to continue praying? God will use your prayers for blessing and protecting Israel and the Jewish people for His glory and holy purposes (Genesis 12:3).
Purim is called a minor festival, and we learn all about it in the book of Esther. The major duty for Jewish people on the Feast of Purim is to read through the book of Esther. We also perform what is known as a Purim spiel, a play where children and adults alike dress up as Mordechai, Haman, and other characters to retell the story.
Food is an essential part of understanding Jewish holidays, and on Purim, we eat hamantaschen—also called Haman’s ears or Haman’s hat. These pastries are triangular and traditionally filled with prune, poppy seed, cherry, or pineapple, and they contain a lot of butter, making them delicious.
The main characters in the book of Esther include Haman, the wicked antagonist. When his name is mentioned during a public reading of the book, the audience boos. Mordechai is the righteous cousin or uncle of Queen Esther, who is the heroine of the story. The king, Ahasuerus, plays a supporting role, as does Queen Vashti, who is banished early in the narrative. Haman was a servant of the king, but he harbored a deep hatred for the Jewish people.
The story began at the palace, where King Ahasuerus held a great feast. He called upon Queen Vashti to entertain his guests, but she refused and was banished. The king then sought a new queen through a Persian beauty contest. A beautiful Jewish girl named Esther, also called Hadassah, was chosen and brought to the capital, Susa. Her cousin Mordechai accompanied her, as she is an orphan. Mordechai instructed Esther to keep her Jewish identity a secret.
Mordechai spent much of his time at the king’s gate, where he overheard a plot to assassinate the king. He reported this conspiracy, and his deed was recorded in the royal chronicles, though it was initially overlooked. Meanwhile, Haman rose to power and despised Mordechai, who refused to bow before him. Enraged, Haman devised a plan to annihilate the Jewish people.
Mordechai learned of this plot and urged Esther to intercede with the king. In Esther 4:13–14, Mordechai told her, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther, recognizing her moment of destiny, courageously approached the king, risking her life. She hosted banquets for the king and Haman, during which she exposed Haman’s evil plan. The king, enraged, ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordechai. Additionally, Mordechai was honored, and the Jewish people were given the right to defend themselves. As a result, they triumphed over their enemies, and the Feast of Purim was established to commemorate this deliverance.
The book of Esther, though it never explicitly mentions God, demonstrates His sovereign hand in protecting His people. Events unfold in a way that reflects divine orchestration—Mordechai being in the right place at the right time, Esther winning the favor of the king, and Haman’s downfall mirroring his own malicious intent.
A broader perspective on the story of Esther aligns with Genesis 12:1–3, the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Throughout history, Jewish people have faced threats of extinction—from the Egyptians to the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans, and beyond. Yet, God has always raised up individuals to preserve His people. Esther exemplifies this divine calling.
Haman’s fate underscored this covenantal principle. He sought to destroy the Jewish people and was himself destroyed. Meanwhile, Mordechai, who acted righteously, was elevated in stature, receiving the signet ring of authority that had once belonged to Haman. This reflects God’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the survival and thriving of His people.
Had Haman succeeded in his plan, it could have disrupted the lineage leading to the Messiah. God’s preservation of the Jewish people ensures the fulfillment of His promises, including the coming of Jesus through the Jewish nation.
As we celebrate Purim, we reflect on our own destinies. Just as Esther was placed in the right place at the right time to fulfill God’s purpose, we must consider what God has created us to do. We are uniquely and wonderfully made, and if we are obedient and available to God, we will find ourselves in the right place at the right time to fulfill His plan.
Please remember to pray for Chosen People Ministries and for our ongoing work of sharing the message of Jesus with Jewish people. We look forward to the day when we can fully gather again, worship freely, and see God’s ultimate plan come to fruition—the turning of Jewish hearts to Jesus and His return as King.
Thank you for standing with the Jewish people.
May God richly bless you.
Dr. Mitch Glaser
President Chosen People Ministries
