Thus, the story of Purim ends in a series of battles, a bloodbath. The Jews do not sit down and enlighten their enemies about how we must all live together in peace. They do not form reconciliation committees; they do not call for a national conversation about Jew-hatred; they do not consider it a virtue to be tolerant of the intolerant. And they do not forgive their genocidal enemies.
The Jews who follow Mordechai and Esther take up their swords and fight. Because only a good man with a sword can defeat a bad man with a sword.
Robert J. Avrech
March 13, 2014
Purim: The Non-Progressive Jewish Holiday
[The details change some but there are certain concepts that appear to be timeless truths.—Joe]
The Maccabees are pretty kick-ass, too, AAMOF.
And there is some evidence that the Hebrews were allowed into Egypt to occupy Goshen, which is somewhere on Egypt’s Northeast border with the Sinai. as a sort of militant buffer against tribes that would invade.
All in all, a far cry from the image of helpless victims we often get.
Yet, as a bloc, the vote almost to a person democratic. Some would say the Jew have suicidal tendencies.
It’s a puzzle. I’ve seen some explanations having to do with centuries of having to learn to survive in totalitarian countries. If only meekness keeps you from instant extermination, meekness is what you choose.
The JPFO is doing its part to help fix this problem. I expect it will be a long effort. Even in Israel some parts of it remain.