The story of the Jewish vacation of Purim, which commemorates the survival of the Jewish folks, has continued to reverberate all through historical past, Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm of New York informed Fox Information Digital.
Lamm is chief govt of BZ Media, which works to “carry collectively the artistic expertise and philanthropic assets to supply the most effective Jewish and Israel content material for mainstream Gen Z audiences and past.”
The story of Purim is discovered within the E book of Esther, a part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Previous Testomony.
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In trendy instances, Purim is widely known with a retelling of the story of the Purim miracle, a feast, charitable giving, and dressing up in costumes. The date of the vacation modifications annually; in 2024, it happens on the night of Saturday, March 23, and thru Sunday, March 24.
“Set through the reign of the Persian Emperor Ahasuerus — identified within the Greek historic custom as Xerxes — the E book of Esther narrates an try by Ahasuerus’s viceroy, Haman, to exterminate the Jewish folks,” mentioned Lamm.

Fashionable celebrations of Purim usually contain dressing in costumes. (Todd Maisel/NY Each day Information Archive by way of Getty Photos)
The story “then information the Jews’ subsequent salvation by means of the forceful efforts of Ahasuerus’ Jewish queen, Esther — aided by her cousin Mordecai.”
He went on, “Probably the most poignant interplay between Esther and Mordecai comes within the wake of Haman’s announcement of his intention to destroy the Jewish folks. Mordecai beseeched Esther to intervene along with her husband Ahasuerus exclaiming, ‘Who is aware of whether or not you’ve gotten come to the dominion for such a time as this?’ (Esther 4:14).”
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These phrases, which “referred to as a reluctant hero to decisive ethical management,” mentioned Lamm, “lastly satisfied Esther to behave.”
A number of centuries later, this phrase possible moved one other chief to behave. That was President Abraham Lincoln, mentioned Lamm.

Purim is an annual celebration of the survival of the Jewish folks in opposition to Haman’s try to exterminate them. (iStock)
“About two weeks earlier than publishing a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln met with nationally outstanding abolitionist Rev. William Weston Patton,” mentioned Lamm.
Through the summer season, Lincoln expressed a want to emancipate the slaves within the South, however had not but executed so, he mentioned.
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“And so it was that Lincoln discovered himself, on a Saturday morning, confronted by a fiery Patton making the non secular case for emancipation,” mentioned Lamm.
“Patton tried a wide range of totally different arguments, all of which Lincoln parried. However within the last moments of their assembly, Patton unleashed one extra salvo: Esther 4:14.”
“Who is aware of whether or not you’ve gotten come to the dominion for such a time as this?”
Patton mentioned he informed Lincoln, “On the time of nationwide peril of the Jews, underneath Ahasuerus, Mordecai spoke … to Queen Esther, who hesitated to take the step essential to their preservation, in these solemn phrases: ‘For if thou altogether holdest thy peace presently, then shall there enlargement and deliverance come up to the Jews from one other place; however thou and thy father’s home shall be destroyed; and who knoweth whether or not thou artwork come to the dominion for such a time as this?’”
Patton believed Lincoln might “be his era’s Queen Esther,” Lamm informed Fox Information Digital.

Rabbi Ari Lamm of New York, at proper, informed Fox Information Digital that the biblical story of Purim could have reverberated by means of the centuries and given President Lincoln a lift of braveness. (Getty Photos/Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm)
“We consider that in divine windfall you’ve gotten been referred to as to the presidency to talk the phrase of justice and authority, which shall free the bondsman and save the nation,” Patton reportedly informed Lincoln.
“In response, all Lincoln might say was, ‘No matter shall seem like God’s will I’ll do,’” mentioned Lamm.
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Whereas it’s unimaginable to know if Patton’s quoting of Esther was the catalyst to maneuver Lincoln to behave on the Emancipation Proclamation, Lamm believes that it simply may need been the case.
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“If David Gilmour Blythe’s 1863 portray of Lincoln drafting the Emancipation Proclamation — through which Lincoln attracts his inspiration from two assets: the Structure and the Bible — is any indication, Patton definitely succeeded,” he mentioned.
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