A Festival of Strength

The Book of Esther tells of when Mordechai defied the Persian leader Haman:

"And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordechai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him."

Enraged, Haman sought to destroy the Jews.

Today is Purim, which celebrates the survival of the Jewish people and the destruction of Haman and other enemies:

"And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them."