MARCH 10,29, 2022 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home
The Eternal Secret of Our Purim Triumph
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By Rav Yaakov Feitman
E
verything about Purim is a mystery. From the beginning of the Megillah until the end nine long years go by. Even Klal Yisrael forgot why Hashem was angry at them (Megillah 12a). All they could see was that Mordechai had incensed Haman, bringing about his enmity and a vicious decree of genocide against us. Esther’s rise to the throne is an enigma, for many reasons including her actual age and other factors indicating that miracles were happening. Of course, Hashem’s Name is absent from the Megillah because this is a nes nistar – a hidden miracle – and Purim teaches us that Hashem is always with us, even and especially when He is not readily apparent. But there is another aspect to the Megillah which is also concealed from open view. That is the secret mesiras nefesh of Mordechai and Esther. First of all, Mordechai risked death when he wouldn’t bow down to Haman. Later, Esther equally endangered her life by appearing uninvited to Achashveirosh. It has been suggested for many centuries that Mordechai and Esther both took these drastic steps as an antidote to
the fact that Klal Yisrael benefitted and even enjoyed Achaveirosh’s party even though he was parading in the garments of the Kohain Gadol and gloating over the holy utensils of the Bais Hamikdash. Some say that we had no choice; after all, he was the king and could have us executed for lack of participation. Others point to the fact that all of the food was kosher, under the supervision of Mordechai, the ultimate mashgiach. True enough, but they should have put on a smiling face, crying inside over the chillul Hashem. They apparently did not, and so their fate was sealed. The B’nai Yissaschar famously teaches that this is the source of the masks of Purim. We should have put on a mask then, but since we didn’t, we do so today as a kaparah. According to the Gemara, Mordechai and Esther also paid a personally great price for their heroism, since they became forbidden to each other as husband and wife at the end of the saga. Yet, this is only part of the story. Chazal (Megillah 15a) teach that Esther told Achashveirosh that Mordechai had saved his life and thereby brought about the salvation of Klal Yisrael. From this noble act, the Ge-
mara derives that whenever someone repeats anything in the name of the originator, he or she brings a geulah to the world. The Imrei Emes of Gur is surprised. Would we really think that Esther would lie? Why was this conversation so extraordinary? His answer goes to the heart of the Megillah and our eternal triumph. Chazal (Sanhedrin 89b) teach that when Hashem reveals a prophesy all the other nevi’im of the generation receive it as well, although each in their own unique form and understanding. Thus Esther, who was one of the seven Nevi’os, also knew of the plot against the king which had been revealed to Mordechai. Esther could morally and ethically have claimed credit for the revelation and cemented her position as queen. Instead, she took no personal credit and attributed the king’s rescue to Mordechai alone. That was her moment of greatness. We should also add here the insight of my rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l, (Pachad Yitzchok, Purim No. 13, page 56). Mordechai seems to warn Esther, “Do not imagine that you will be able to escape in the king’s palace any more than the rest of the Jews. For if you persist in keeping si-
