The Lion King and the Book of Esther

What do The Lion King and the Book of Esther have in common? More than just royalty, dramatic plot twists, and a whole lot of suspense. Both stories teach us about responsibility, about stepping up when it’s easier to stay silent, and about using our voices to protect those who need us.

And let’s be real—while Purim is the funnest (yes, that’s a word today) holiday on the Jewish calendar, the actual story isn’t all fun and games. There’s political intrigue, assassination plots, and a villain with a weird hat who’s basically trying to wipe out an entire nation. Sound familiar? Yeah, history really does love to repeat itself.

And unfortunately, today we’re facing some pretty big threats again—Hamas, rising antisemitism, and of course, the ongoing battle over which hamentashen filling is the best. (It’s poppy seed, don’t fight me on this.)

But before we get to today’s fight, let’s talk about Esther.

Esther’s Moment of Decision

The Purim story takes place in ancient Persia, where Queen Esther, a young Jewish woman, is married to King Achashverosh. (If you don’t know how to pronounce that, just mumble and pretend you do—works every time.) Meanwhile, the evil Haman, who must have had the worst personality in all of Persia, convinces the king to sign a decree wiping out the Jewish people.

When Mordechai hears about this, he tells Esther she has to go to the king and plead for their survival. But there’s one problem—going to the king uninvited is a great way to get yourself executed. (Royal life, am I right?) Esther is terrified and wants to wait for the right moment. But Mordechai gives her the ultimate Jewish guilt trip:

“If you remain silent now, salvation will come to the Jews from another place—but you and your father’s house will be lost.”

Translation: You have a chance to step up here. If you don’t, someone else will—but you’ll regret it forever. No pressure, right?

So, Esther does what any Jewish woman would do in a crisis—she fasts for three days, prays, and then walks into the throne room like an absolute queen (literally). The king extends his golden scepter, she pulls off an epic strategy involving multiple banquets, and boom—Haman gets what’s coming to him, and the Jewish people are saved.

Simba’s Moment of Decision

Now let’s talk about The Lion King. Simba, the young lion prince, watches in horror as his father, Mufasa, dies (cue childhood trauma). Convinced by his sketchy uncle Scar that it’s all his fault, Simba runs away and adopts Hakuna Matata—the philosophy of zero responsibilities and all-you-can-eat bugs. He spends his days chilling in paradise, lounging in hammocks, and avoiding his problems like a college student ignoring emails from their professor.

Meanwhile, back home, Scar turns the Pride Lands into an absolute disaster. (Basically, the guy was Haman with a mane.) Then, Simba’s childhood friend Nala shows up and drops some bad news:

“Simba, if you don’t go back, everyone’s gonna die, and you’re responsible.”

Simba’s response? “Hakuna Matata!” (Translation: Yeah… I’m good here.)

But then comes the wake-up call. Rafiki, the crazy but wise baboon, smacks him on the head and leads him to a vision of his father. In the clouds, Mufasa delivers the ultimate truth bomb:

“Remember who you are!”

And just like that, Simba realizes he can’t just sit back and let his people suffer. He returns, fights Scar, and reclaims the throne. Moral of the story? Running away from responsibility doesn’t make it disappear. (Also, never trust your shady uncle.)

This Is Our Moment of Decision

So what do Esther and Simba have to do with us today? Everything.

Right now, the Jewish people are facing another defining moment. Hamas has made it clear that its goal is the destruction of Israel. Meanwhile, antisemitism is spreading like a bad TikTok trend, from violent attacks to misinformation on social media.

And yet, so many of us hesitate to speak up. We think, I’m just one person—what difference can I make? But here’s the thing: If Esther had stayed silent, if Simba had stayed in his hammock, their people would have suffered. And if we stay silent now, we let others tell our story for us.

Winning the Battle on Social Media

In today’s world, the battlefield isn’t just physical—it’s digital. While the Jewish people are winning on the ground, we’re losing the war on social media. And if we don’t step up, others will control the narrative.

Some people think, I don’t have a huge platform—what difference can I make? But guess what? If you have even 10 followers, you’re an influencer. You don’t need millions of people listening to you—just one. Every time you share facts, correct misinformation, or proudly show Jewish pride, you create a ripple effect.

And let’s be honest—if we have time to post about our brunch, our gym selfies, and our latest Amazon finds, we have time to stand up for the Jewish people.

The Question We Must Ask Ourselves

The Purim story teaches us that God will always protect the Jewish people. The question is: What role do we want to play in this story?

Will we sit back like Simba in his jungle paradise? Will we wait for the “perfect moment” like Esther almost did? Or will we realize—like they both did—that there is no perfect moment? The time to act is now.

So, the choice is yours. Will you take responsibility? Will you remember who you are?

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