Two lessons from the story of Purim

“We learn two lessons from the story of Purim. The first is that “uMordechai lo yichra v’lo yishtachaveh”, Mordechai would neither kneel nor bow down. The Jewish people does not bow down to any pressure. Especially the Jewish people in Israel. “V’hu yolichenu komemiyut l’artzenu,” and He will lead us upright to our land. Because of Israel, because of your strength, because of your refusal to be intimidated, every Jew walks a little taller today.”

“The fate of Haman has been throughout history the fate of individuals and nations: that those who try to destroy the Jewish people end by destroying themselves. Great empires sought to harm the Jewish people: from Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome in ancient times, to the Third Reich and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century. They seemed at the time to be indestructible. Yet every one of them has disappeared, while our tiny, vulnerable people can still say “Am Yisrael Chai”.”

'What Lessons Can We Learn from the Story of Purim?' A thought for Purim, shared by Rabbi Sacks in Sderot in 2008