Power and Leadership Accountability

Learning from the Past to Secure the Future

The story of Purim is about power, corruption, and the responsibility of leadership. King Achashverosh ruled Persia not with wisdom but with indifference and selfishness. He allowed Haman, an openly genocidal official, to rise unchecked. Had Esther and Mordechai not intervened, disaster would have followed.

Purim teaches us that power without accountability is dangerous and that societies suffer when leaders are driven by personal ambition rather than moral responsibility.

This week’s Parashat Ki Tissa tells another story of leadership failure—the sin of the Golden Calf. In a moment of panic and uncertainty, the Israelites abandoned their principles, demanding a new god. Instead of standing firm, Aharon caved under pressure, creating an idol that led to disaster.

But failure does not mean the end of the journey. Moshe’s response was not to make excuses or sweep the failure under the rug. He shattered the tablets, demanded accountability, and ultimately led the people back toward a higher purpose.

October 7: Our Modern Ki Tissa Moment

October 7, 2023, was Israel’s Ki Tissa moment of profound failure, vulnerability, and shattered illusions.

Hamas, an enemy whose intentions were never hidden, executed a massacre of unspeakable brutality. Like the Israelites at Sinai, we found ourselves exposed—our security, leadership, and preparedness failing when they were needed most.

This is not just an intelligence or defence failure; it is a moral failure that demands soul-searching. The question is not whether mistakes were made—that is undisputable. The question is: How do we respond?

Ki Tissa teaches that mistakes are part of the journey, but what follows is what defines us. Do we let this moment break us, or do we use it to strengthen our leadership, security, and moral clarity?

Purim: The Battle Against Evil Never Ends

The story of Megillat Esther provides another lens to understand our reality. Haman was not vague in his hatred of the Jews—his intention to destroy them was clear. And yet, Persia’s Jews did not see the threat coming until it was nearly too late.

The Purim story reminds us that:

1. Antisemitism is persistent and timeless.
   Haman’s genocidal hatred is mirrored in Hamas’ ideology. Just as Persia’s Jews were shocked by the evil they faced, so too were Israelis on October 7. But history warns us—Jew-hatred is not a relic of the past. It is active, insidious, and waiting for moments of weakness.
2. Leadership is fickle.
   King Achashverosh was not committed to Haman’s plan; he was indifferent to Jewish survival. Esther and Mordechai had to fight for their people’s protection. Today, the world’s leadership remains just as unreliable. We cannot depend on world powers, the UN, or shifting political alliances to secure our future. We must take responsibility for our own defence.
3. Action is the only answer.
   Esther and Mordechai did not resign themselves to fate. They strategized, took risks, and acted.
   We failed to prevent October 7. But what we do next will determine whether that failure defines us—or propels us forward.

Leadership and the Challenge of Moral Clarity

Leadership failures are not just ancient stories—they define the modern world. Vladimir Putin, Bashar al-Assad, and other authoritarian leaders have been responsible for the deaths of over 500,000 of their own people, including young soldiers sent to die for their leaders’ ambitions.

• Putin’s war on Ukraine has cost hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives, shattered economies, and caused a global energy crisis.
• Assad’s brutal regime in Syria has used chemical weapons, bombed cities, and displaced millions of his citizens—yet he remains in power.

It’s not just about leadership—it’s not just about the people choosing their leaders. It is about Society, Countries, the UN, and others not calling out Evil regimes and taking decisive action. Instead, there is a lack of moral clarity.

No Jews. No News.

No Jews. No Protects.

No Jews. No UN Resolutions.

Looking back at the societal shifts, we see rotting from within, influenced by universities and external ideologies.

Where is the moral clarity?

Three Recent Events That Highlight This Crisis

Negotiating with Terror & the Murder of the Bibas Family

Rawan Osman, a Syrian-born activist who grew up in a Hezbollah stronghold, experienced a transformation after moving to France. She became a pro-Israel advocate, exposing the reality of Hamas. She pointed out a troubling truth:
Hamas leaders live in luxury in Qatar while negotiations continue with them. But how do you negotiate with terrorists?

Qatar should have arrested these Hamas leaders (and extradited them to Israel for trial). Instead, the world plays a convoluted game of diplomacy instead of demanding justice.

The Oscar Award for “We Have No Other Land”

The film We Have No Other Land is built on false claims and distortions. The very title is a travesty—Arabs have plenty of other lands; Jews have only one homeland.

Contrast this with the stark, heartbreaking image of Karina Pritika—a young gymnast known for her light and joy, brutally murdered on October 7. There is video evidence showing her kneeling, pleading for mercy—before being executed.

The Oscars should not have been politicised, and if they were, they should have awarded an Oscar to a film about October 7^th.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/karina-pritika-23-former-gymnast-who-spread-light-everywhere/

The Alawite Massacre (March 8, 2024)

Where was the outrage? More than 1,300 innocent Alawite civilians were murdered in Syria this past weekend—yet there were no protests, no mass condemnations.

If there are no Jews involved, there is no news. This global indifference is a sad reflection of society’s moral decay.

The Fight Against Amalek: A Battle for Every Generation

These are not isolated events but part of a larger historical pattern. The concept of Amalek—the embodiment of moral evil—reminds us that each generation must fight its own battle against darkness.

The horrors of October 7th, the Holocaust, and countless atrocities throughout history prove one thing:

When a society loses its moral compass, evil thrives.

Moving Forward: Carrying Pain, Building Strength

The pain of October 7 is deep. The hostages are still in captivity. Families remain shattered. Trust in leadership is broken.

But Purim and Ki Tissa remind us that redemption comes through action.

A secure Israel requires:

Uncompromising self-defence – We must never again allow ourselves to be unprepared.

Moral clarity – Just as Esther exposed Haman’s evil, we must expose Hamas for what it is—a genocidal terror organization.

National unity – Divisions before October 7 weakened us. We must stand together.

Faith and resilience – Like the Israelites after the Golden Calf and the Jews under Haman’s decree, we rise, rebuild, and continue.

Conclusion: Learning from the Past, Securing the Future

Ki Tissa and Megillat Esther are not just ancient stories—they are roadmaps for today. They teach us that mistakes—whether the Golden Calf or the failure of October 7—are painful but not the end of the journey.

Purim is not just a celebration of survival—it is a call to responsibility. Esther and Mordechai ensured that the Jewish people lived not just for that generation, but for all future ones.

Now, it is our turn.

Because if we do nothing, history has shown what happens next.

And we cannot afford to wait for another Haman to rise.