A Christian and Jew unite this Purim in prayer and to call to end the threatening evil menace of the Ayatollah regime in Iran.
By Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Jonathan Feldstein
Celebrated by Jews this week, the festivity of Purim marks the deliverance of the Jewish people in Persia – what was then the world’s superpower, some 2500 years ago. In recent years, a growing number of Christians have identified the significance of the holiday, marking Esther‘s bravery, and the defeat and elimination of the evil Haman and his sons, and all those who felt empowered to massacre the Jewish people.
This year more than ever, both Jews and Christians in general, and Israelis and Iranians in specific, are and should be united in the common lessons and miracles as chronicled in the Book of Esther. The often-repeated verse where Mordechai counsels Esther that she was divinely placed as Queen “for such a time as this” (4:14) has never been more relevant, and never been more of an urgent rallying cry for us.
As an American-born Orthodox Israeli Jew and an Iranian born American Christian, we have partnered to build essential bridges between Jews and Christians, and to restore the once bright relations between Jews and Persians. We have done so by piloting Root and Branch, a project to bring Christians to harvest olives in Israel. Now we need to ‘harvest’ goodwill and support to bring about the rapid demise of the Iranian Islamic Republic regime.
Not since Haman has Persia been the threat it is to the Jewish people. Iran today is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism with tentacles and cells across the world. The Islamic Republic’s goal and intent to acquire nuclear weapons is not something to be negotiated with, but terminated at all costs. The ayatollahs, if they acquire a nuclear weapon are likely to use it against Israel and would be a constant threat to extort the world to pursue their nefarious goals.
We – the writers – have each experienced the suffering under the heels of the Islamic regime. While I, Marzi, lived in Iran where I was arrested, imprisoned and sentenced to death for converting to Christianity and witnessed the execution of loved ones, I, Jonathan, have lived for decades enduring missile attacks and threats from Iran and its proxies, as well as witnessing Iran sponsored terror attacks close to home.
A regime that has brought misery and persecution to its own people – the Iranians – for far too long, and threatens the region and the world must be brought to an expeditions end. As we celebrate the ancient victory over the evil Haman by the righteous Mordechai and Esther, we – Jews and Christians and Americans and Israelis and Iranians – must unite to realize this vision. The same way the Jewish people were saved by a divine miracle 2500 years ago, we must pray and advocate for another miracle today. Indeed, Esther herself was a woman of action. She asked that Jews in Persia to pray and fast. This combination of beseeching God and taking personal action will save Israel and the Jewish people who are in the ayatollah’s crosshairs, as well as Iran and the Iranian people who have suffered the brunt of brutal domestic Islamic torture.
As was with Persia the world’s superpower 2500 years ago, defeating the ayatollahs today is an imperative in safeguarding the world. Our heroes then were Esther and Mordechai but also King Cyrus who empowered and funded the Jewish people’s return to Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the Temple. Cyrus understood the imperative to bless the Jewish people and the centrality of Jerusalem as the heart of Jewish life.
Today’s heroes are the US president as leader of the modern superpower who has the ability to shut down the Islamic regime once and for all. Our heroes are Israel; and the Jewish people who have fought and resisted decades of Iranian threats and the Iranian people, who are longing to overthrow their evil rulers. Our hero too is Crown Prince Raza Pahlavi who has shown great strength and courage in pursuing the restoration of positive relations between Israel and Iran, and Jews and Persians.
There is a Biblical tradition that when the Jewish people were standing at the shores of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army behind them, God only performed the miracle of splitting the sea when one man demonstrated his faith and walked in the water up until his nose. Today we are calling upon Jews and Christians, Israelis, Americans, and Iranians wherever they are, and people of good conscience everywhere, to join us and our organizations Genesis 123 Foundation and NewPersia.org to demonstrate their faith and support.
Together we can create our Red Sea moment.
At the end of the Book of Esther, there is a beautiful verse that says, “The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.” (8:16) As we celebrate Purim this week, we pray this will be the outcome not just for Israel and the Jewish people, but for Iranians and the entire world. We believe that through the power of prayer and public advocacy, we can see in our day, miracles performed that are unimaginable and will indeed be remarkable.
A regime that is a threat not only to the Jewish people but to the region and the world must end. It would be an event not only celebrated by Jews but welcomed by Iranians.
About the writers:
Marziyeh Amirizadeh is an Iranian American who immigrated to the US after being sentenced to death in Iran for the crime of converting to Christianity. She endured months of mental and physical hardships and intense interrogation. She is author of two books (the latest, ‘A Love Journey with God’), public speaker, and activist for religious freedom. She has shared her inspiring story throughout the United States and around the world, to bring awareness about the ongoing human rights violations and persecution of women and religious minorities in Iran.
Jonathan Feldstein - President of the US based non-profit Genesis123 Foundation whose mission is to build bridges between Jews and Christians – is a freelance writer whose articles appear in The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Townhall, NorthJersey.com, Algemeiner Jornal, The Jewish Press, major Christian websites and more.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).