For the past few days, we have been in and out of safe rooms and bomb shelters as Iran rains missiles on Israel. Yesterday, we took a selfie and sent it to our family in America, the picture caption said “Regards from the Mamad” (Mamad is a Hebrew term referring to a protected space within a residential apartment or private house in Israel). It’s a surreal moment when modern technology meets ancient hatred, when a simple photo captures both the mundane reality of survival and the extraordinary weight of history repeating itself.
But as we sit in these concrete shelters, listening to the wail of sirens and the thunder of intercepted missiles overhead, one question burns in our minds: Is this just another war for the history books, or is there something bigger unfolding before our eyes?
The parallels between our current crisis and the Book of Esther are impossible to ignore. As Israel launches “Operation Rising Lion,” striking Iranian nuclear facilities and eliminating key Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear scientists, we are seeing the unfolding of what Rabbi Yisrael Ariel called a miracle greater than the miracle of Mordecai and Esther.
The Book of Esther tells us of Haman’s genocidal plot:
Remarkably, this ancient threat emanated from Persia—the very same land that is modern-day Iran. Today, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Rabbi Ariel identifies as “the Haman of our generation,” has pursued this very same goal through nuclear weapons and proxy warfare from the exact same geographic region where Haman once plotted.
Just as the Jews in Esther’s time ultimately fought back against their enemies after Queen Esther’s intervention with King Ahasuerus, today we see Israel taking action against the modern Persian threat. Israel’s strikes have eliminated senior Iranian military officials and other key figures in Iran’s power structure, echoing the downfall of Haman and his supporters in ancient Persia.
The Sages teach us that the miracle of Purim was hidden, concealed within natural events that appeared as political maneuvering and palace intrigue. What we’re witnessing today follows the same pattern of divine providence working through natural means. Israel’s military technology, intelligence capabilities, and strategic precision are all products of human ingenuity and training, yet the timing, success rate, and protective outcomes suggest a guiding hand beyond mere chance.
The prophet Joel spoke of the end times: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke…Before the great and terrible day of GOD comes” (Joel 3:3-4). This passage describes the signs that will precede the final redemption. Rabbi Ariel points out that Tehran is literally burning with “blood, fire, and columns of smoke” as Iranian infrastructure becomes consumed in flames.
What makes this moment particularly significant is not supernatural intervention but the restoration of Jewish sovereignty and self-defense after nearly two millennia of exile. We are living in what Jewish tradition calls “the footsteps of the Messiah,” which the sages describe as a time of tremendous upheaval and conflict.
We are living in an era shaped by the fulfillment of ancient prophecies—the return to Zion, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and global upheavals echo biblical descriptions of the end times. Now, as Iran threatens Israel with the same genocidal intent that Haman harbored, we see another piece of the prophetic puzzle falling into place.
Despite hundreds of missiles launched at Israeli cities, casualties remain remarkably low through advanced defense systems, skilled military personnel, and divine providence working through natural means. Unlike our ancestors in Shushan, who had to rely on palace intrigue and hidden salvation, our generation has been granted the ability to defend ourselves in our own land.
Israel’s precise strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities represent not just military success, but a profound shift in Jewish history—the ability to actively defend against those who seek our destruction rather than relying on the protection of others. For nearly two thousand years, the Jewish people lacked even the basic ability to defend ourselves, scattered across the globe and dependent on the mercy of host nations. In the time of Mordecai and Esther, the Jewish people were saved from destruction but remained in exile. Today, we are witnessing something greater—an active dismantling of those who threaten us, carried out from the Land of Israel itself.
As we emerge from our shelters and watch the smoke clear over Tehran, we must ask ourselves: Are we merely witnessing another chapter in the eternal struggle between Israel and its enemies, or are we watching scenes of the final redemption as described by the prophets such as Joel?
The answer can be found in the unprecedented nature of our current reality. For the first time in two millennia, the Jewish people are not merely surviving persecution—we are actively preventing it, from our own sovereign state, with the world watching.
This is not just a military victory. This is the beginning of redemption.
As we continue to monitor developments in this historic conflict, one thing remains clear: we are living through moments that will be remembered for generations. Whether in bomb shelters or on battlefields, the Jewish people are writing the next chapter of our eternal story—one where we are no longer passive victims of history, but active participants in our own redemption.As we witness these prophetic events unfold, we must remember that behind every miracle are real people facing real challenges. Families across Israel are dealing with the disruption of daily life, economic hardship, and the emotional toll of living under threat. Israel365 is working tirelessly to provide aid and support to those most affected by this conflict. You, too can be part of the historic time by supporting our brothers and sisters who are on the front lines of redemption. To learn more about how you can help, visit Israel365’s emergency relief fund and be part of writing this chapter of history.
