Written in 2005 but still true in 2011: History always repeats itself, and if one learns nothing from its' lessons, then one must endure the consequences. Today, the leadership of Israel under [fill in the blank], free from 'liege lords' as they are, is once again leading Israel to the brink of destruction.

This article was written in 2005 but what has changed in 2011?

Purim this year falls on March 25th 2005, and is a time of joyful celebration celebrating the overcoming of scheming political evil that was motivated by hatred and designed to eventuate in the mass murder of ordinary citizens.

It commemorates the deliverance of Persian Jewry from their intended destruction by Haman, the chief minister of King Ahasuerus (circa Fifth Century B.C.E.). The holiday is marked by the reading of the Megillah (The Biblical Book of Esther) which recounts the details of how Queen Esther and Mordecai managed to thwart Haman's plot (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.gold/congofj/).

This year marks just another year in which the Jewish people celebrate deliverance during a time when all the political forces of the earth, including that of the Israeli Government, are setting the stage for the destruction of Israel.

For some people, this is just another step in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy as outlined in the Book of Revelations. For others, having eyes but no sight, the current political scene is seen as a time of promise, a hope for a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israeli's.

But for this writer, the current political scheming by world powers, falling as it does at this time of the festival of Purim, reminds me that nothing has changed for Jews. Hated by the world from the time Abraham entered the Promised Land, through to the Mosaic Exodus, to the fall of Samaria in 722BC, to the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian Captivity in 586 BC, to Masada, the pogroms, the Holocaust, the Six Day War and to the ongoing troubles in Israel.

Learning the Lessons of History

History always repeats itself, and if one learns nothing from its' lessons, then one must endure the consequences.

Einstein once said something to the effect that insanity is when a person does the same thing over and over again, always expecting a different result.

During the last years of the Kingdom of Judah, Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) was the king of Babylon. Despite the warnings of the prophets, the leadership of Israel conspired with foreign governments to throw off the yolk of their masters.  Nebuchadrezzar was the master of Israel by virtue of conquest. Yet had the leadership of Israel paid attention to Nebuchadrezzar's demands, their duties would have been light, and their penalties merely monetary.

Even after Nebuchadrezzar successfully conquered Jerusalem in his 7th year of reign, the leadership of Israel still did not learn the lesson of history, and in his 18th year, he finally destroyed the temple, the city, and the people.

Today, the leadership of Israel under Sharon, free from 'liege lords' as they are, is once again leading Israel to the brink of destruction.  Perhaps it is prophetically unavoidable, and perhaps it is just stupidity.

Jews are unwelcome in both the secular Christian world and more so in the fundamentalist political Muslim world. Just as the leaders of the Palestinian people's have used these wretches as pawns in a political manouvre, so too is Sharon using his people as pawns in a worldwide political game.

When everyone around you hates you and seeks your destruction, where do you turn.  The choices are another Masada, or a victorious war.  Sharon seeks victory somewhere in the middle, but not in a situation where FINAL peace is the Arab stated goal.

In this approaching time of Purim celebration, irrespective of your religious or political beliefs, please ask yourself this question. 'When the Jews finally give in to all the demands made upon them, and still the evil one seeks their death, will you rejoice or lament?'

If Israel looks like finally being destroyed, would you grant them the right to use their nuclear missiles to kill as many of the enemy as they can before dying themselves?  If Israel has nuclear weapons, why have they not already used them?  Could it be that they are the ones who truly want to live in peace?

In this upcoming time of celebration, do you care only about the suffering of the 'either/or'? Either the Palestinians or the Israeli's?

In this approaching time, perhaps all people's should pray that the Master of the Universe deliver them from the political schemers whose sole motivation is hatred and power.

R.P.Bendedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

2011

R.P.BenDedek is the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' and a guest columnist at Magic City Morning Star News.

"The King's Calendar" [ on sale - while the economic recession is on], is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls. See Chapter Precis page.

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