'For such a time as this' – modern-day Esthers and Purim miracles amid crisis in Israel

“For if you remain completely silent at this time relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Dr. Elana Heideman of the Israel Forever Foundation spoke with Christian journalist Paul Calvert about the biblical Purim holiday in the light of International Women’s Day, highlighting the many Esther-like heroines emerging during Israel’s present-day crisis.

The springtime Jewish holiday of Purim (March 13-14 this year) is about God rescuing the entire Jewish community within the Persian kingdom ruled by Xerxes (Achashverosh in Hebrew).

Calvert asked Heideman whether miracles are being seen in Israel today.

“The Purim story is so fascinating because it is God saving the Jews and yet God is actually absent from the story,” Heideman explained. “He’s not mentioned and yet He is a pervasive presence at the same time.”

Likewise in Israel today, “We may not be necessarily able to identify God’s presence in every place, but we see it through the miracles that are taking place,” she said.

Just as God used Esther – a young Jewish woman – to save her people, another young woman recently saved many Jewish lives from a planned terror attack.

Last month, Israeli commuter, Adi Jegna (26), was sitting at the back of her bus to Bat Yam, when she noticed a bag.

Heideman told Calvert that Jegna was not going to say anything initially, “but then she saw there was a yellow liquid inside and she told the driver; he evacuated the bus, drove directly to the bus parking lot, walked to the police to report it and that minute – the bus blew up.”

Within 30 seconds, two more buses blew up. In total, explosives were discovered on five buses. There were no injuries.

“The plan had included 15 buses to be targeted at 9 a.m. and this miracle took place at 9 p.m.,” Heideman explained. “A hand of God shifting the hour and thus saving hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.”

Heideman also spoke about “the miracle of having our hostages return home to be able to shed light on some of the miracles they themselves experienced there within the tunnels – moments that saved their lives, prayers that they uttered in order to stay strong…”

“As Eli Sharabi testifies, ‘There’s something that is protecting us down there.’”

Heideman also noted the inspiring young women serving as army observers at IDF Nachal Oz military base, near the Gaza border, whose pre-October 7 reports were tragically not heeded.

Sixteen of these unarmed 18 to 20-year-olds lost their lives. However, even until the last minute, they continued to report what was taking place “because they were the eyes on the ground.”

Heideman also highlighted additional brave young women who survived months of Hamas captivity, including Agam Berger, “who spoke of her religious resilience while in captivity,” and Amit Soussana, “who was brutalized in many ways…”

Heideman encouraged listeners to boldly use their voices, saying, “We can each be an Esther.”

“We can each be [like] one of the [courageous young former hostages]: Liri Albag, Daniela Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, “and others whose voices are essential for us to continue hearing and sharing in our fight for the freedom of the Jewish people.”

The traditional Purim costume often involves masks for adults, while children typically “dress up as the heroes of Israel,” Heideman explained.

“But we also must remove the mask of the enemy,” she continued. “Do not let them hide behind a mask of false identity, false victimization, false lies of a genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation…”

“The swastika of yesterday is the keffiyeh of today. They are hiding their faces. You must expose them.”

“You can. Do not be afraid, for maybe at this moment this is what you were born for.”

Join Heideman's global community at Israel Forever.org.

Click below to listen to the full interview.