The American comedian Alan King summarized every Jewish holiday this way:  "They tried to kill us. We won. Let's eat."  We have all said it, and it is meant to be funny, a joke about our fate. However, this “Jewish joke” takes on a sobering and reflective tone this year, particularly during Purim. While this phrase does describe the triumph of the Jewish people over persecution and oppression, time and again, it falls flat this year amidst the war in Gaza, the increasing isolation Jews are feeling everywhere and the meteoric rise of anti-Semitism. The celebratory sentiment of "let's eat" seems jarring and disconnected from the realities faced by Jewish communities here and abroad.

While it is true that this humor stems from the blunt acknowledgment of the recurring theme of survival in Jewish history, right now we feel vulnerable and not sure how this current situation will ultimately play out.  While we are in the midst of rising Jew hatred, history has taught us not to assume it will pass with us unscathed. 

Usually Purim is a time of celebration and silliness. This year it takes a nuanced, yet profound, turn when viewed through the lens of resurgence of anti-Semitism and the war in Gaza, where Israel has become the villain in large parts of the Western world.

To simply frame Purim the way we usually do would fail to recognize our current state, ignoring the suffering taking place in Israel and in Gaza. Clearly the echoes of past atrocities persist in the present. Our Jewish narrative is marked by periods of relative acceptance and integration followed by outbreaks of persecution and discrimination, leaving us to grapple with questions of belonging and security. Questions we are grappling with again right now.