Purim - A Higher Power - 5758

It was a comfortable time for the Jews under Achashverosh’s rule.  Yes, the first Temple had been destroyed and they were living outside of the Holy Land of Israel, but their political position in Persia was secure.  King Achashverosh had invited the Jews as equal guests to his feast, and even dropped his requirement that everyone drink a full goblet of wine, knowing that the Jews would be uncomfortable with non-kosher wine.  He had even allowed the Jews to begin rebuilding the Temple. One of the most prominent and respected officers in the government was Mordechai, the leader of the Jews.  The new queen Achashverosh chose was a Jewish woman, and the Jewish position in the country was secured.  

And then at the drop of a hat all of that ended and there was a rude awakening.  The building of the Temple was stopped with Haman’s advice, and then they were threatened with genocide - the complete annihilation of all Jews.  The Talmud says that Achashverosh ruled over the entire known world, which meant that the threat was to all Jews everywhere.

How could such a thing happen?  We can get some clues from hints in the Megillah and its commentaries in the Talmud and in Chassidus.  Mordechai told the Jews not to go to the party.  Achashverosh made the party to celebrate, according to his mistaken calculations, the end of the 70 years of exile that the prophet Yirmiyahu had foretold.  He miscalculated when the period began, and thought that Yirmiyahu’s prophecy was not being fulfilled.  He desecrated the holy vessels from the Templeby using them for his feast.  

This was a slap in the face of the Jewish people, but they felt that they needed to show up in order to keep in the king’s good graces and to ensure their secure future.  Mordechai exhorted them to remember that it is Hashem Who keeps the Jewish people alive, and any good graces from the king are by Hashem’s decree.  The most important thing of all for our security, Mordechai taught, is our steadfast connection to Hashem and observance of the Torah.  Our eternity is beyond nature, and not subject to the laws of nature.  While we must take natural steps to live peacefully and in harmony with our neighbors, we can never compromise the true source of our security.

The Jews chose the diplomatic path over the spiritual, and felt they had no choice but to go to the feast, even though the Jewish leader, whom Chassidus refers to as the “Moshe” of the generation, told them not to.  Well, when nature takes over, “one sheep among 70 wolves” stands no chance.  

Mordechai’s response was to rely on Hashem to the point of self-sacrifice.  He refused to bow to Haman, and disregarded the criticism of those who said that he was inciting Haman’s hatred.  Her knew that Haman’s antisemitism was irrational, and recognized that the response had to be irrational devotion to Hashem.  He gathered 22,000 children and studied Torah with them, in violation of Haman’s rules, knowing that it is the Torah that guarantees Jewish continuity.

Esther took the same approach.  Mordechai asked her to go and talk to the king, and she knew it was dangerous for her to do so.  The king forbade anyone to come to him without an appointment, and he had not asked for Esther in 30 days, probably because she had fallen out of his favor.  If she went unbidden and he did not stretch out his scepter, that was the end of the road, and we already know about Achashverosh’s temper.  

You would think that Esther would do everything to beautify herself so that the king would accept her, since after all it was her beauty that attracted him to her in the first place.  But instead of spending the next three days with her beauticians, eating well and taking care of her physical needs, she told Mordechai to have everyone fast for three days, and she did the same.  Not exactly conducive to looking her best.  She knew, however, that in order to succeed she had to build her spiritual strength, her connection with Hashem.

Esther invited Haman to the two feasts with the king.  One explanation in the Talmud for why she did that was in order that the Jewish people should not rely on her: “We have a sister in the royal palace,” but put their faith in Hashem.  The people themselves showed great self-sacrifice for Torah.  Haman only cared to kill those Jews who remained faithful to Torah and planned to allow any who left the faith to live.  Not a single Jew left Judaism, and in fact they strengthened their observance.

The result was the great miracle of “venahafoch hu,” the complete, miraculous turnaround of the situation, and the Jews routed their enemies who had planned to destroy them.

The Purim message is eternal, and perhaps this is why the Sages established the requirement for us to all hear the Megillah twice every Purim, in the evening and during the day, read from the original scroll.  We are a people that has survived every imaginable attempt against us by remembering this message, and adhering to Torah under all circumstances.  While we very much appreciate friendly governments and the support of many righteous gentiles who are our genuine friends, we must remember that our ultimate survival and success depends not on the friendly Achashverosh, nor on the Jewish sister in the house of government, nor on Jews in high government positions.

It is the unique Jewish lifestyle, adherence to Torah and Mitzvot, (together with the necessary diplomacy and activism, that is our true, long-term protection.  It is this lifestyle that will overturn the plots of the modern day Hamans and their helpers, and that will bring about true redemption and peace in the world.

Happy Purim!  You are invited to join us for Megillah readings and parties at Chabad!  I look forward to seeing you.  

One of the most important Mitzvot of Purim is to give Matanit L’evyonim - gifts to the needy.  You can fulfill the Mitzvah by giving to at least two poor Jews, or you can give to a fund that distributes the money.  For example chabadpaloalto.com/matanot.