A Talmudic tradition (B Megillah 15b.7) puts verses from Psalms 22 in the mouth of Queen Esther as she enters the inner throne room to begin the process of saving the Jews. In the past, that connection did not speak to me. However, this year everything is different and I also spent many hours studying the Psalm (source sheet here). Gradually, the connection became clear.
In verses 2-22 (as numbered in Jewish bibles), the psalmist describes nightmarish threats and danger. Then, in verse 23, there is a reversal of fortunes very similar to the reversal of the Jews' fate in the Book of Esther. And very similar to the prayer that many Jews have recited with increased intensity for the last 166 days: "Have compassion upon them, and bring them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemption, now, speedily."
Speedily and in our days.
I highly recommend this moving musical rendition of select verses (in Hebrew), by Ittai Binnun and AndraLaMoussia.
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