Dear Friends,

As a tribute to murdered Israeli children Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the most popular Purim costume in Israel this year is Batman. We all know the Purim story: Haman’s genocidal plot against the Jews was foiled by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai — true superheroes of their time.

Haman’s plot was not an isolated event in our history but rather part of a recurring pattern of persecution and survival. The resilience of the Jewish people is a key theme throughout our history.

Curiously, Haman and Hamas are separated by only one letter, yet they are alike in one crucial way: neither will succeed in destroying the Jewish people. And so, with heavy hearts, on Purim, we dig deep and we rejoice.

At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev — the Israeli university most affected by October 7th — we take this one step further. Thanks to your generosity, we are leading the Way Forward: building back better and actively planning for a bright future.

Not all superheroes wear capes, and that’s exactly how we feel about our donors. Thank you!

Chag Purim Sameach,

Andrea