God’s gift: converts for Purim
The Book of Esther tells us to celebrate the defeat of Haman and his Jew hating followers: “…celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as a time when Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.”
Mordecai also, “Wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy; and giving presents of food to one another, and gifts to the poor. (Esther 9: 21-2)
To this day the Jewish Community joyously celebrates Purim; and many individual Jews do give gifts of food to each other and to the poor.
But there is another group of Jews that are mentioned in the Book of Esther that most Jews seem to have forgotten.
“…these days were called Purim, from the word pur, because of everything written in this letter and because of what they (Jews) had seen and what had happened to them.
So the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who joined them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. (Esther 9: 26-7)
Who are these people described as “all who joined them”?
This refers to the thousands of non-Jews who when they heard of Haman’s permission for everyone in the Persian Empire to loot, plunder and kill Jews without fear of punishment; did not join those who were planning the attacks.
Instead they came to Jews with offers to hide Jews from the mobs.
These non-Jews had been positively influenced by their involvement with Jews and their exposure to Judaism, especially the teachings of the Torah and Jewish views about the one God of all humanity.
These righteous Gentiles were more in fear of God then they were afraid of the mobs who had the backing of the powerful Haman.
The Book of Esther says, “In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating.
And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear for the Jews had seized them.” (Esther 8:17)
These righteous Gentiles were at first motivated by feelings of compassion and fairness to help Jews. After the danger had passed they were inspired by the miracle of Jewish fortitude and survival.
Thousands of them must have converted to Judaism, or why would there be this special mention of them in the Book of Esther, and their descendants who are still among us are a very special gift from God to the Jewish people.
Just as the tens of thousands of non-Jews who have become Jewish in the decades following the Shoah have been a blessing to us and to future generation of Jews.
Perhaps all Jews should include expressing joy and appreciation to the many righteous converts among us as a special part of our celebration of Purim.