Purim and Redemptionבס”ד

Purim is pretty important, it says in gemora Magilla that 48 prophets and 70 elders including Chagi, Zacharia and Malachi

enacted the Holiday of Purim.

The day of Purim is likened to the day we received the Torah. In Masechet Shabat it says the Jews experienced the miracle of Purim with such happiness and ecstasy that they took upon themselves to keep the Torah with a whole heart, as the verse says ”they received and established”, as though they were standing on Mt. Sinai.

In Gemora Sanhedrin we learn that from Purim we begin to discuss the laws of Pessach as is stated by Rabba to Rabbi Nachman. Rabbi Nachman of Bresslov teaches that Purim itself is a preparation for Pessach, and it protects us from Chumatz on Pessach.

To understand this let us look at the mitzvot of Purim. The Mitzvot of Purim may seem less Mystical than waving the Lulov on Succoth or blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, or the Seder of Pessach, but it must be understood that the Mitzvot of Purim such as Hearing the Maggilla, sending gifts to friends, sending gifts to the poor, Having a meal and getting drunk are like the nature of Purim itself, only disguised as something Natural, but being the will of Hakodesh Baruch Hu arise from a lofty place. These mitzvot which seem so common every day things as giving gifts like Purim itself come to remind us of the hidden face of GOD, that happens around us continually. It is known that there is no chance occurrences. GOD controls everything there is, and all that occurs. We see this when looking closely at each of the commandments. How blind are the eyes of men to the wonders of GOD. So much having to do with Purim seems to be hidden, from the absence of Hashem’s name in the Megilla, to the  costumes, the very name of Esther,  in Hebrew comes from the root “hidden”. Esther אסתר, when spelled backwards is “Rosha teva” [the initials of the words for] of “rosh” (head) , “toch” [middle], and “sof “ [end], together with the letter alef, spell Esther [backwards]. Purim is the holiday of hidden things, the invisible hand of God, whose light is hidden throughout the story but is recognized only by those who know to discern it. Like in our own lives !

THE MITZVA OF

DRINKING ON PURIM

Chatam Sofer writes that the idea of drinking on Purim is to repair the drinking that was done by the Jews at the party of Achashverosh, which led to other sins. The Abuderhem writes that the reason we are commanded to drink wine on Purim is to remember all the miracles that were brought about through drinking at parties during the Purim story. Firstly, Vashti’s downfall came due to all the wine Achashverosh drank, then, when Esther replaced her, Achashverosh made another party. Most importantly , Haman’s downfall came during the party that Esther had prepared for him and Achashverosh. Another important lesson of the Purim story is the Memuchan (sages say is Haman) planned for his own daughter should become queen at the cost of Vashti’s demise. However like all the plans of men they can “back fire” and it did by Esther being placed on the throne of Persia instead of his daughter. Haman created the problem and its solution.

We need to shake off all of the accepted certainties that conceal the truth from us. The sages teach “when wine enters secrets emerge” (eiruvin). In our generation we very much need our inner secrets to come out and be revealed.

The Rebbe of Kotzk writes that drinking wine on Purim is a segulah for prayers to be accepted. The Yigael Ya’acov brings down from his rebbe, the Imre Yoseph of Spinka that by drinking wine on Purim we bring the Geula closer and the building of the Beit Hamikdash. The Yitav Lev says that drinking wine on Purim is a segulah for Parnasah, that they will not have to chase after their livelihood, but that rather, it will come easily to them.The holy rebbe of Zidichov says that drinking on Purim is considered as great as fasting from Shabbat to Shabbat, an entire week without food or drink!

Make no mistake though Purim is not just a drinking party

The Jews of ancient Persia celebrated their stunning victory over their enemies who the very next day had legal authority to kill them all. This victory did not come about through the Hands of Heaven. No, every Jew had to get his hands “dirty” and fight and kill those who sought to fight and kill them. The real miracle was two-fold. The first miracle was that a new law was instituted that gave the Jews first crack at their enemies. However, this first miracle alone would not have saved anyone. The second miracle required the Jews of those days and in those lands to actually rise up, arm themselves and physically seek out, fight with and kill those who wanted to kill them. If any of their enemies were to survive and live to see the day of the 14th of Adar, then the law would have been of their side to kill Jews with impunity. Therefore the Jews of the time had to be very thorough to make a quick finish of all their enemies. For the Jews of those days to rise up, pick up arms and actually shed blood, even the blood of those who so clearly wanted to kill them, was a great miracle. An ever greater and often over looked miracle is that Achashveirosh hated the Jews as much as Haman did for the king, Achashveirosh to change his mind and not kill the Jews is very unusual miracle . Sometimes man’s free will is taken. Esther had seen what had been done to Vashti and so she knew king, Achashveirosh was an unpredictable fool and that her life therefore constantly hung by a thread, so she was not with him willingly. Mordechai was told his rememberence in the Kings book of Chronicles of  had been erased. Haman had already endeavored to have it erased, but afterwards the angel Gavriel rewrote it.

On Purim we do the mitzvah of sadakah of giving gifts to the poor. And we have the mitzvah of sending “shalach manot” (small packages of Food). These may be small offerings, but they do have a great effect. Similar is the mitzvah of the 1/2 Shekel every Jew has to contribute to the Temple in Adar. This seems to be the idea that a little can go a long way. The Oar Hachyim tells us that the 1/2 Shekal is not a Physical transaction but works in the Spiritual worlds. It removes the rule of the stars and constellations from upon Yisrael.

The numerical value, Gematria, of shekalim is 480, the same as the number for lilly ‘wife’ of the Samech Mem (Devil). We conclude the ’weeks of shovavim’, which is a tikun (repair) for the sin of the the brit milah. (holy covenant) This repair, subdues the negative forces, and the completion of the fixing is through the giving of the Half Shekel.

Concerning giving gifts to the poor “Sadakah” its effects are so far reaching as R. Yeshua Ben Lavi teaches that He who continually gives sadakah will have wise wealthy children well versed in “Agada”. R. Eleazer Ben Yosi Teaches sadakah and deeds of kindness bring peace and good understanding between Yisrael and there father in heaven. R. Yuhuda teaches that sadakah delivers from death. Who can list the merits of a single mitzvah ? In conclusion R. Yochanan says in the name of R. Shimon Bar Yochi that great is the merit of supporting the needy, it brings the resurrection before its time. Charity ”Sadakah” in Hebrew ”the holy tongue” comes from the root ”sedek” (righteousness). The Zohar teaches that in Aramaic, language of the Talmud, Charity is ”zchuta” which is the same word for ”merit”. Its degree of merit is according to the needs of the recipients of the charity. Charity is a greater Mitzvah when given where its needed to the needy. Instead of giving Charity to a institution where the majority of the money donated goes into an administrator’s pocket, and only a very small amount of the donation actually helps anyone. Its better to give charity to the needy where its needed, and this truly has great merit before heaven. This is why it is a obligation to send gifts specifically to 2 poor people on Purim. We see here a little of how far reaching the effects of giving to a poor person goes.

The king Achashvarosh made a huge feast for his subjects 30,000 Jewish people attended, even if Mordichy warned them not to go. This meal angered GOD greatly. The sages say this meal got the Jews closer to the gentiles and their ways and farther from GOD. It was shortly after this that there arose Haman with his evil plans. Easter’s meal with Haman and King Achasvarosh Was direct atonement for the evil meal. So to we are commanded to make a feast during the day specifically on Purim. For no other holiday are we given a special command concerning only its day meal. This draws attention to the correction in the world made by the afternoon ”sudah” (meal) of Purim. This mitzvah atones for the sins that lead to the evil decree almost causing us to be annihilated by Haman. This meal joins body to soul. Only then is there the special mitzvah of getting of drunk. ”till the point of not being able to tell ”cursed Haman from Blessed Mordichy”. At other times such behavior is seen as deplorable. But on Purim we get drunk. Purim comes to remind us of the miraculous nature of nature itself. The Magid of Koznitz teaches that by “sacrit” of Purim we raise those who are fallen. Illuminating the eyes of the sons of Human to learn Torah. Purifying sparks in them by the sanctification of the Divine name. Raising those fallen sparks. Each Purim more are purified. Not purified by merit, but by “Kidusha” of “nachat Ruach” over the miracle of Purim.

We learn in Atz Chym from the Ari Hakodesh That Ester is called השחראילת (doe of the morning). She is described green being the aspect of the “green Kav” which is Bina that surrounds the world. Its from this green kav nature’s nature is created. By this level of revelation we can understand what must be done as never before. This revelation of the shechinah is of such great beauty the Ar’i compares it to a virgin. The Kamarna Rebbe teaches Ester was like a green “etrog”, as She was green. Ester dressed in Malchut. Rabbi Aslag explains concerning this That the color of the illumination of Chuchmah in Malchut is called Ester. It is as gold-green, the color of the Etrog. Green like Gold is Chuchmah in “Chassadim”. Mordichy is such a level that His power nullifies power of מרדכי=בלעם+בלק =לאה+רחל +2 This is a very high level such that the Ar’i teaches in Mavua Sharim that in “gan aden” souls have a garment described as זך (shinny). Mordicy and Ester merited this garment while still in this world. This is what it means when it says, they had garments of “Malchut”. This is the aspect of אפר (dust of the earth), but as before the sin of Adam. By this “malchut” one certainly takes part in governance, providence of the world. The Aor Enyim reveals that on Purim the Yesod of Abba is revealed going out of the Yesod of “Parzuf” Rachel which is the “magilla”. Purim has the “ateret” (crown) of great gold of Chuchmah, and chesed. It Spreads out Chesed of Arich which dresses in Aba, from the side of “din” of Imma. Concerning this Chesed the Ar”i teaches in Lecutim that light is revealed in the Yesod from “Chesed Elyon”, this is the “leviyaton”. This is the “cord of Chesed” that illuminates in Malchut that is Ester. It is hidden in Abba and Imma in the secret of “ד”.

The Rashas”h teaches that during the exile of Bavel Zu”n stood back to back in “mochin gadlut” (developed consciousness) of Abba and Imma. After 70 years the “mochin” left Z”a. Then came Mordichy and Ester and the light was renewed. From Shar Cavanot we learn Purim is the time, and preperation right before redemption. It was for Pasach that Ester declared a 3 day fast . No Matzoth was eaten that Pasach. This was unbearable before heaven and evoked mercy that caused the sleep of king Achasvarosh to become disturbed. This resulted in him searching His Chronicles and remembering that Mordichy had saved his life but has not been rewarded. This led to the raising of Mordichy and the downfall of Haman and his evil plans. This brings us back to our original question of how it is that Purim protects us from “chumatz” on Pessach? In the simplest sense R. Shimon teaches “chumatz” is the evil imagination, like a haughty man it rises up. Arrogance can only occur when one does not know who it is they stand before. As Pharoe who represents the evil inclination said “ Who is GOD ? “ Purim reminds us to see GOD in all things, especially those things people take for granted as being mundane, coincidence and by “ chance “. This is essential as if we forget, then GOD has to remind us. As Rashi teaches us that Amalack is the dog GOD sends to bite us ש “חו when we forget where GOD is. To clarify this further we see in Pesicta of R. Kahana that Edom tries to make Yisrael go out side of the Torah path, but beyond the path’s borders GOD has placed the dogs. We see this idea reflected in the verse from Tihilim “ flatten it flatten it to its very יסוד ( foundation ) “ The sefira Yesod is sometimes call צדק (righteousness), the proper path. Edom would like to push Yisrael off the proper path to the dogs. How important is it to practice righteousness in one’s supposed mundane activities. Their give and take in the physical world. As R. Kahana teaches that you may be certain in a generation whose weights and measures are false will have a wicked kingdom wage war against them. So why does it appear in this world that the wicked seem to prosper ? One’s whose business practices exploit the poor. We can understand this by looking at the relationship between Yomkippurim and Purim.

Why is Yom Kipurim כ (like) Purim ? Just as on YomKipurim a lot is drawn and from it is chosen a goat to be given to distract the accusers on high. Like throwing a dog a bone. Then Yisrael is judged favorably. So too is the story of Purim. The wicked one drew lots trying to find when according to astrology would be the best time to attack Yisrael, Yet this too is only a distraction as there is no such time. As GOD rules within Nature. From The Ner Yisrael we learn פור (lot)=(2)קמ”ג . GOD controls the “lot”. The wicked think they are prospering in their evil way , but the truth is as Adam Ha Reshon Said “ The wicked thrive as grass, all the evildoers flourish in order that they may be destroyed for ever “. This will be when their cup of inequity is full and they inherit their lot.

After Masiach comes there will be no longer Pasach, Rosh Hasanah or Yom Kippor but Purim will continue to be celebrated. This is a celebration of the absolute and complete destruction of Amalack. It is good to have in mind before the reading of the megila that in the merit of this mitzva, God should exterminate all the evil powers of this world, which is related in an acrostic of the first letters of the verse, ’to remove the filth from the land.’

The holiday of Purim from sefirah of Chochmah. After the Messiah comes it will be the last holiday to go. Even after we no longer need Yom Kippur to access its holy light in the eighth millennium, Purim will still be a unique time. Only in the ninth millennium will the light of Purim shine everyday, at a very advance stage of Olam HaBah (the World-to-Come). Purim now, opens up access to light of the ninth millennium, the light of the sefirah of Chochmah. Shabbot gives us access to the light of the seventh millennium and Yom Kippur to the light of the eighth millennium. Purim is higher than all of these !

Rabbi Chaim Vital immersed in a mikva erev Purim as was his custom before every Shabbat and festival. Shabbat clothing is worn on Purim, and if women have gold jewelry, Rabbi Yoseph Haim writes in ’Ateret Tiferet’, they should adorn themselves with such Jewelry to honor the festival. The custom is to say, ’Cursed is Haman’ three times, and intend to bring down the Samech Mem and his legions, and so to say three times, ’Blessed is Mordechai’, as was the custom in the holy yeshiva, Beit El. During the morning reading of the megila, when the words, ’for the Jews was light and joy, happiness and riches,’ the custom is to touch and kiss one’s tefilin. Before making the festive meal, after reading the Megila and concluding the morning prayers, a person should immediately perform the ’mitzvot hayom’, by gifting gifts to the poor (matonot l’evyonim’) and afterward, ’sending food to one’s friends’, ’mishloach manot’, and then begin his personal festive meal, so too was the custom of the Ari’zal, and the Ra’shash.

R. Moshe Cordevero in Shur Kumah teaches that from the מאמר (creative utterance) that were made by Mordichy and Ester there was a מאמר by GOD added to their אמירה (loving type of speech). Becouse a מאמר by GOD joined to their אמירה the power of Malchut extended to include all the people. Such a מאמר has the power of a ruling of the King. Concering this its tought if you want a ruling of the King call the sefirot of the מאמר that is needed. By this there will be a arrousing of the king without doubt. The Ramcha”l in his safer Tefilot in # 515 says that by אהי”ה Haman was given into Esters hand’s (אהי”ה is a name of the כסא). כסא=אף(anger)

Haman and Mordechai both set out for Persia, Moedechai to plead for building the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and Haman against building the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Haman who was greedy, ate all his food at once, while Mordechai allowed enough to remain for the whole journey. Soon Haman became very hungry and begged Mordechai to share the remainder of his fare with him. At first, Mordechai refused his request, but later, he relented on the condition that Haman agree to become Mordechai’s slave. As they had no paper to upon which to write a contract, Haman wrote the following pledge upon the sole of Mordechai’s shoe: “I, Haman the Agagite, have sold myself to Mordechai as his slave in consideration of bread.” Since then Haman could never forgive Mordechai for his humiliation, and he was in constant dread lest Mordechai enforce his slave claim over him. Even more that this :

The son of a Jewish slave owner of his gentile slave is his property. So Yishmoyal and all his offspring are truly slaves to the Jewish people. Thus there is no need to promise to give us the lands of Yishmoyal for they belong to us as a slave does not own land but it belongs to the slave’s owner, the Jewish people.

The servants of the king did not know about the hidden hatred that there was between Mordechai and Haman, because they did not know that Mordechai was a Jew. (Mordechai was not Charadi)

 “Achashverosh” is always written in the Megillah in full, with two vavs, except here :

 “And King Achashverosh imposed a tax on the land and on theisles of the sea.”  (10,1) Tax מס is ס”ם backwards.

Sni Luchot ha Brit Lech Licha

Chant the 4 verses of the Magilla of Ester : 2:5, 6:1, 8:15, 8:16 (verses of redemption)

Say Melech loud on 6:1 , some also do on 10:13. Make a bean dish for meal as Danial would not eat Nebchanezer’s unKosher meat. Make fritters filled with beans and meat. At the meal write Amalak and Haman on a piece of paper and soak it in beer to fulfill the verse “Give beer to the wretched” (Mishle 21:6)

The Midrash Rabba writes that Mordechai ha Yehudi, after he had heard the decree of Haman,

gathered together all the children who learned Torah, who were pure of soul, and began to teach

them Torah. While he was teaching them, Haman entered the Beit Midrash in order to take him

according to the command of the king, to lead him on the horse of the king in the king’s garments.

Mordechai thougth Haman came to kill him, however Haman came over to him and asked him, ‘What are you teaching the children?’ Mordechai answered him that he was teaching the portion of the grain offerings brought in the Beit HaMikdash. Haman said, The ‘kometz’ or portion of your hand, ie; the learning of Torah you perform now, is worth more than the 10,000 shekels silver I gave to Achashverosh.’

‘ The Ari’zal writes in Sha’ar HaGilgulim that the power of Haman HaRasha which had enabled him to succeed in bringing such a difficult decree against the Jews was actually from the power of the holy sparks that had been hidden in the soul of Haman. And with this holy power,

he had come to attack to the Jews. But from where did he derive this power? From the spark

of the soul of the holy sage of the Talmud, Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat, that was embedded in his soul.

The Gemara writes about Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat that he had been a school teacher who was

completely dedicated to imbuing his students with the holiness of Torah and mitzvot. And this is

why Mordechai’s first response to Haman’s decree was to gather the school children together to learn

Torah. Because that was Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat’s mitzvah, and it was the power of this mitzvah that

extracted the sparks from the soul of Haman. And because of this, Haman lost the power of holiness

hidden in his soul, and from this point on, Haman’s downfall continued until his death, and the

fall of all the enemies of the Jews. As it was in those days, so shall it be in our days as well. The sages explain that Saul’s “mercy” on the king of Amalek had severe consequences: Haman, the murderous villain of the Book of Esther, is called the “Agagite,” he was a descendant of the Amalekite King Agag.

R. Manachem Mendal of Chabad taught that when Queen Ester called on Mordichy to gather all the Jews and fast that Mordichy gathered thousands of children and taught them Torah until they became inspired to the point that they proclaimed “ we will stand with Mordichy and the Torah for life or death “ In the same day the decree against the Jews was made null and void, even if it only became known later. It is this type of devotion we must strive for in our divine service. Then evil has no leg to stand upon ! This can be seen in the teaching in Perke d Rebbi Eleazer as there we learn “ with the 4th from the little finger of the right hand GOD showed Moshe the ½ shekel, this is the finger of redemption.” It taught in Safer Ha Brit, also by Cyim Vetal and many other places that this finger corresponds to the flow of the sefira Chuchmah ( Divine Creative inspiration ). The wisdom of GOD above understanding. At this level there is no free will, only truth. The Holy Ar”i reveals that on the day of the miracle of Purim, God shined upon the Jews a great divine light, through which they were saved from their enemies in both a spiritual and physical sense. And thus every year, on that day, a great saving light comes to the Jews and shines upon them.

So what is Purim anyway, it is named after the ”pur” (lot) drawn by Haman. By definition, a lot is an object used in deciding something by chance. Therefore, in a lot, all possibilities are essentially equivalent. For the lot, ”yes” and ”no” are equal. This is alluded to in the two words for ”yes” and ”no” in the Aramaic idiom quoted above:

The word for ”yes” is hen, which is numerically equivalent to the word ha’kol (55), meaning ”all” in Hebrew. Furthermore, the word for ”no” in Aramaic, lav, is numerically equivalent to the Hebrew word hevel (37), which means “vanity”. These two words form together the central phrase of Ecclesiastes” (1:2): “all is vanity,”–ha’kol hevel. This is the meaning of a lot.

The meal Lot had with the angels in Sodom was matza. Yet the meal was called “mishteh”. This word is also used in the Magilla of Easter for the meal of purim. Purim is redemption without miracles in a revealed way. Passach redemption was one of many obvious miracles. Together Passach and purim include all aspects of redemption. Lot was conducting the Passach Sader and the purim “Sudah” all as one.

The name Ester comes from the Hebrew word “str” meaning hidden or secret. Some of the most important commandments are performed secretly. Over so much we just don’t have a clue. All history is really a extended version of the Magilla, until Mashiach (The Messiah) will be revealed. Then everything will be different.

May it be that we all see this fulfilled as the sages say “ till one does not know the difference between cursed is Haman and Blessed is Mordichy “, but all only the revealed will of GOD, as there is no other ! With the gathering of the exiles and the building of the Bait Hamigdash with our Righteous Maschiach in Rachamim quickly in our days AMEN SELAH !