In Israel, the word “protekzia” gets thrown around a lot. It is a Hebraized version of the English word “protection,” which signifies the practice of using connections or "knowing the right people" to gain an advantage, often bypassing standard procedures or requirements. Someone might say "I got the job through protekzia" to mean they got the job because of who they know, not necessarily because of their qualifications.
While it sounds unfair, when surrounded by enemies who wish to destroy you, it is often the only way to survive. At the time of the Purim story, the Jewish people had the greatest protekzia possible. Not only was the Jewish sage Mordechai a national war hero, trusted advisor to the king, and the judge at the palace gates, but his cousin Esther was the queen to King Achasveirosh, who ruled over the whole civilized world! Jews had never had such proximity to global power before that era or after.
Yet, specifically at a time when the Jews enjoyed such protekzia, they were faced with their greatest existential threat ever. Every Jew was Achashveirosh’s subject, and his prime minister, Haman, masterfully manipulated him to decree that every Jew be killed on the same day. There was no way to escape and no way to hide. How does this match up with the privileged position Jews enjoyed at the time? The Roman Emperor Hadrian once expressed to Rabbi Yehoshu ben Levi how impressed he was with the Jews. “They are like a lone sheep surrounded by seventy wolves who want to tear it apart, yet they manage to survive!” Rabbi Yehoshua rejected the emperor’s inference that Jewish survival was due to Jewish smarts. “This proves the greatness of the shepherd - G-d - who protects the sheep from the wolves.” The Purim story recorded in the Megillah opens with the lavish 180-day feast King Achashveirosh hosted for his empire, followed by the 7-day feast he hosted for the inhabitants of his capital city, Shushan. The Jews were welcomed to the feast and provided kosher food and wine to dine on. For many, it was the highlight of their new existence as subjects to a foreign king. They felt protected by the global monarch who honored them with an invitation to the palace and felt no need to place their faith and trust in G-d anymore. This attitude was like the proverbial sheep leaving the shepherd to stand under the protection of a friendly wolf. Inevitably, the “protector wolf” and the other wolves will tear it apart as they always wanted to. The sheep's demise is not a punishment for leaving the shepherd but rather the natural consequence of its choice. Haman’s decree of annihilation was the natural outcome of the Jewish overdependence on their high connections. Therefore, Mordechai and Esther first inspired the Jews to repent, pray, and refresh their commitment to Judaism before “pulling the strings” in the palace. The enduring lesson is clear. While protekzia is necessary, we must remember it is only a tool for G-d’s blessings of security and prosperity to flow to us. Our priorities must be invested in Torah study, Mitzvah observance, and ensuring our children receive the best possible Jewish education. Only this will guarantee Jewish survival forever.