"Go gather all the Jews...", this is how Esther opened her instructions to Mordecai the Jew when she learned of Ahasuerus' decree "to destroy, kill and lose all the Jews from youth to old, male and female in one day".
The sages of Israel did not see this call as a one-time instruction for that time, but rather a message for generations, intended to correct the defect that Haman found in Israel - "a scattered and separated people".
The mitzvot of sending food, which is practiced on the holiday of Purim, is also intended to increase love and kindness between one person and another.
The demonstrators break through police barriers at the demonstrations, photo: AFP
Even today, Israel is facing crucial decision points, mainly in front of the Iranian regime that strives for nuclear weapons, and in front of its metastases, ready for action and deployed on our border.
And the people are divided and polarized.
The internal dispute is reflected in the eyes of our enemies as an unprecedented breaking point in the history of the country.
The infiltration of the controversy into the IDF and the security establishment ignites their imagination and hope. In Tehran, they are already jubilant, and the followers of Nasrallah's "spider web" concept, who see Israeli society as conflicted, spoiled, and tired of wars, are finding a boost to their hope.
Nasrallah (archive), photo: Reuters
In articles on the Lebanese channel "Al-Mayadeen", such as the one by the writer Moser Shah Ehabil from March 2, they conclude that "it is true that Israel has great military power and economic power, but the weight and value of these is not high in view of the weaknesses and against the background of the escalation of the dispute and polarization."
The severity of the current crisis stems from the cumulative weight of several reasons: First, the timing.
He visits Israel at a time when it is required to make decisions on the Iranian nuclear issue, which has existential consequences in Israel's view.
It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of a united stance against the threat, as well as against the US and the international community - which are also required to make a decision regarding this.
Second, the scope.
The attention and the many energies that the crisis requires from society and the state.
These will necessarily come at the expense of focusing on the other important issues.
Demonstrations in Tel Aviv, photo: AFP
Third, the impact on the security systems.
Even if we assume that the controversy does not reach the regular or active formations, it affects them, keeps their commanders and managers busy, and affects their image.
To this must be added the erosion in the status of the state bodies, which are supposed to embody national cohesion.
The circumstances oblige the leadership in Israel, coalition, opposition, opinion leaders and public leaders, to act to calm the spirits, to change the dynamics of the public discourse and to have a serious dialogue that will strive for as broad an agreement as possible.
There are points in time when the common national challenges must prevail over any disagreement.
These are the moments when everyone who has the power to influence the situation, should read as a personal appeal to him, the words of the Book of Esther: "And who knows if at such a time the kingdom will come"
The writer served as a national security advisor and as head of the National Security Council, serves as a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
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