This is working list of political and social-justice actions for the current moment inspired by the Purim story.
Please add your own!
(כב) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח סְפָרִים֙ אֶל־כָּל־מְדִינ֣וֹת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְאֶל־עַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ לִהְי֤וֹת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ שֹׂרֵ֣ר בְּבֵית֔וֹ וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽוֹ׃ (פ)
(22) Dispatches were sent to all the provinces of the king, to every province in its own script and to every nation in its own language, that every man should wield authority in his home and speak the language of his own people.
Letter Writing
On Taanit Esther (Thursday, March 9), initiate a letter writing campaign in your family, school, synagogue or broader community. Send letters to the White House's "Esther" aka Jared Kushner, urging him to stand up to the radical elements and destructive decrees of his father-in-law's administration. Remind him of his heritage, his people's history of suffering at the hands of tyrants and others, and encourage him to speak out and to act boldly against policies founded in fear and mistrust, ego and greed. Or, since the verse says סְפָרִים֙, send copies of Book of Esther to the White House. Turn political action into community strengthening by purchasing these books from your local synagogue or Judaica store.
In the very least, sign on to this letter of solidarity with threatened communities from Bend The Arc Jewish Action or hand write and send a postcard to a neighboring faith or immigrant community that lives in fear of the government.
(כא) בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּשַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ קָצַף֩ בִּגְתָ֨ן וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ שְׁנֵֽי־סָרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃ (כב) וַיִּוָּדַ֤ע הַדָּבָר֙ לְמָרְדֳּכַ֔י וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֛ר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּשֵׁ֥ם מָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ (כג) וַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁ הַדָּבָר֙ וַיִּמָּצֵ֔א וַיִּתָּל֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֑ץ וַיִּכָּתֵ֗ב בְּסֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
(21) At that time, when Mordecai was sitting in the palace gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the threshold, became angry, and plotted to do away with King Ahasuerus. (22) Mordecai learned of it and told it to Queen Esther, and Esther reported it to the king in Mordecai’s name. (23) The matter was investigated and found to be so, and the two were impaled on stakes. This was recorded in the book of annals at the instance of the king.
Capitol Calling
Purim is all about role reversals, simple twists of fate. In today's political reality, all people of conscience are sitting in the palace gates, and the plotters do not seek the destruction of a wayward king, rather the wayward king is the plotter, working to silence a critical public and ramp up persecution of the most vulnerable, all in the shadow of fear, in the name of "national security." To those who are awake, the darkness of this national path is obvious. We are all Mordechai now. We must call our representatives in Washington, and urge them to check the disturbing dishonesty, incompetence and seeming corruption of the new administration. Even if you believe that 45 is an honorable champion of democracy and freedom, it's always good to remind your elected representatives that you value the bedrock constitutional principles of freedom of religion, press, assembly, etc., and that America has an obligation to set an example of truth, justice and goodness in the world. The number for the Capitol switchboard is (202)-224-3121. Tell 'em your conscience sent you.
Women Striking
From the organizers of the Women's March on Washington: "On International Women's Day, March 8th, women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity." Join the effort, "A Day Without a Woman" and/or wear red in solidarity with this movement.
(ח) וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַדָּ֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס...
(8) And the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!”
Water Protecting
President Achashverosh Trump appears ready to move toward eliminating or significantly curtailing the "Clean Water Rule" (see report), which the EPA says "protects streams and wetlands that we depend on for our health, communities, and economy." This is outrageous. Achashverosh was wrong. We should keep restrictions in place that protect our drinking water. Join the efforts of organizations, like Clean Water Action, that work to ensure safe access to clean water.