Purim 2026:Echoes of Ancient Persia on today’s war |
The festival of Purim, which commemorates the attempted extermination of the Jews under the Persian Empire, coincides with an open war against the Iranian regime that now occupies that same geographic heritage.
This is fertile ground for conspiracy theories, yet the reality is far harsher: there are bombs, corpses, suffering, and real pain. I take no pleasure in the affliction of others. But…
War is not a spectacle. Taking a position does not mean applauding gratuitous war, but understanding what this war is truly about. As a Spanish Jew, I experience it not from Tehran, but from Sefarad—Spain.
The Iranian regime did not appear on radars yesterday. For years, it has been infiltrating narratives, funding ideological affinities, and shaping public opinion in Europe.
In Spain, this has specific names: Pablo Iglesias, Ione Belarra… essentially, the Podemos party.
This is no fantasy conspiracy; it is an acknowledged fact. It is called soft influence—until Pablo became vice president of Spain, combined with open statements like Ione Belarra’s “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” or Pedro Sánchez’s remarks in September 2025, where he noted that Spain lacks nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves to unilaterally stop Israel’s offensive in Gaza—phrases that critics have interpreted as revealing a deeper anti-Israel stance.
Antisemites will always exist; it is inevitable. But the escalation of antisemitic rhetoric reaches another level when its goal is to constantly erode Israel’s right to self-defense. Outside this structural push, antisemitism remains sporadic and occasional… or so they claim.
This new conflict is no small matter. Persia has a large population, complex geography, and the will to fight. These evolved Parthian horsemen possess asymmetric military doctrine capable of inflicting headaches for many.
It is worth remembering that while the regime exports revolutionary fervor, it grapples with severe internal crises: acute water shortage, extreme desertification, unbreathable air, uncontrolled urbanization, and tensions with women and youth.
Naturally, pointing to external enemies provides more cohesion than fixing local drinking water…
Nuclear bombs win votes. Technical governance does not.
I do not rejoice in war, but turning the other cheek when you have already been attacked is not Jewish ethics. It is worth reminding many Europeans of this. It is called political suicide, because self-defense is not hatred. It is a boundary, it is historical reality. For:
“Love your neighbor as yourself” does not mean allowing yourself to be destroyed.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” does not mean allowing yourself to be destroyed.