Esther’s blueprint for combatting antisemitism in Australia

The week marks the Jewish festival of Purim (March 2nd and 3rd). Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from an evil plot to destroy them, as documented in the Book of Esther. Purim is usually a joyful celebration with costumes, desserts and reading the Megillah. But in the wake of the Bondi Beach tragedy, this year’s Purim carries a deeper, more sombre significance.

The story centres on a Jewish orphan girl living in the Persian diaspora. Through a series of seemingly coincidental yet divinely orchestrated events, she is chosen by the Persian King to become Queen Esther.

At her cousin Mordecai’s urging, Esther intervenes after the King’s advisor, Haman, convinces him to issue a decree to destroy the Jews. Esther courageously approaches the King at risk of her own life to deliver her people.

This was precipitated by Mordecai’s famous exhortation to Esther: “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

I quoted that line “For such a time as this” at the launch of the Australia-Israel Allies Caucus last year, which I Chair, highlighting the critical and timely role of the Caucus in confronting Australia’s own antisemitism crisis: