Page 38 - HaMizrachi #7 Purim

A Woman's Soul

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi

10 Practical Wonders

FOR PURIM NIGHT

very Jewish woman is Queen During the Megillah reading there are being easily offended, from ףֹס ֱ א ֶ ל, “to
Esther. Why? The Hebrew ת ַּ כ ְ ל ַ מ special moments, when G-d Himself collect”, i.e. everything people say about

E ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ א literally means the Queen sends you a huge portion of Mishloach you), etc.
of Esther . It should have said ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ א Manot:
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ה ָּ כ ְ ל ַּ מ ַ ה, Esther the Queen, or ה ָּ כ ְ ל ַּ מ ַ ה 9. Purim – םי ִ רּו ּ פ – is a time for fertility
ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ א, The Queen, Esther. On Purim, 5. The moment of the initial blessing (ת ֹוּי ִ ר ֹו ּ פ) and matchmaking. Couples are
each of us is a Queen of Esther. It’s as if – ה ָּ ל ִ ג ְ מ א ָ ר ְ ק ִ מ ל ַ ע – on reading the very prominent in the Megillah – Vashti
we are part of her; we receive something Megillah, we read about a revelation and Achashverosh, Zeresh and Haman,
of her powers and strengths, magic from of a hidden world exposed once a year, and of course Mordechai and Esther. So
her majesty. On the night of Purim, we the world of Mordechai and Esther – a immediately after the Megillah reading,
proudly wear her crown. world in which decrees are annulled, pray for children and shidduchim (the
ְ
a world of אּוה ך ֹופ ֲ הַנ ְ ו, of reversal of Shla HaKadosh).
Here are 10 segulot (acts with fortunes – from which G-d sends you
metaphysical potential) for this sublime a generous helping of “abundance, 10. A special emotional time of Divine
night of Purim: purity, mercy, marital partners and Will. Midnight on Purim eve is a
righteous children” (Rabbi Yosef Caro). powerful moment. The Midrash tells us
1. Before you go to hear the Megillah, that at this hour G-d heard the sounds
put a beautiful tablecloth on the table 6. During the Megillah, open your of bleating from the city of Shushan:
and light two candles, in memory of heart to serenity and comfort. Why “What are the sounds of young goats in
Mordechai and Esther. did Esther request “write me down for My ears?” He asked His entourage. They
generations”? So that future generations replied, “It is the voice of Your children,
2. Leave a bowl of nuts and seeds on could find solace in the Megillah story, the little children of Israel about to die
the table – in memory of Esther who at all times. under Haman’s decree.”
was stringent about keeping kosher in 7. You don’t read the Megillah. You pray So at midnight on Purim eve, the time
Achashverosh’s house and ate only nuts the Megillah (Rabbi Ziskind), because G-d is listening to the cries of infants
and seeds. and annulling decrees, stand and say the
it is about you. At every “Haman,” think
about your greatest troubles. When following: “Hashem, I am your daughter
3. Wear a festive outfit! The Megillah and You are my Father! It says a father
tells us that clothing brings about he rises to power, be worried. Your must find a shidduch for his daughter -
problems and fears are controlling you.
salvation: ה ָ ח ְ מ ָ ׁש ְ ו ה ָ ל ֳ ה ָ צ בֹק ֲ ע ַי ת ַּנ ַ ׁש ֹו ׁש When they hang him, rejoice, because You must find me a shidduch I am Your
י ַ כ ְ ּ ד ְ רֹמ ת ֶ ל ֵ כ ְּ ת ד ַ ח ַי ם ָ ת ֹוא ְ ר ִּ ב, “The rose it means your own personal release and daughter! It says a father must provide
of Jacob rejoiced and was glad victory is at hand. for his daughter – send me a good living,
when together they saw the blue of I am Your daughter! It says a father must
Mordechai’s clothes.” Even before the 8. The moment the 10 sons of Haman make his children happy. Make me happy
decree had been annulled, Haman put are hanged. The Chassidim say that Father!”
the regally-dressed Mordechai on the each son represents one of our bad
horse and everyone saw and rejoiced. So character traits, and as they are hanged, On the night of Purim, G-d is incapable
tonight, dress for redemption! we ‘kill’ our own faults and defects. So – so to speak – of saying no to prayers
for every name, think about one trait or like these.
4. Keep smiling. Please don’t be angry! habit you want to ‘hang on the gallows.’
Purim is a holiday, a day of simple joy. For example, Parshandata (א ָ ת ָ ּ ד ְנ ַ ׁש ְ ר ַּ פ) 1 The phrase Malkat Esther seemingly originated
We receive a special Heavenly helping = being judgmental, from ׁש ֵ ר ָ פ ְ ל, “to in songs and other sources in the 1920s and 30s.
of joy today. There is no room for anger interpret”; Dalphon (ן ֹופ ְ ל ַ ּ ד) = a poverty Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is a popular
and annoyance (so says the Chida). (תּו ּ ל ַ ּ ד) mindset; Aspata (א ָ ת ָּ פ ְ ס ַ א) = Israeli teacher, speaker and writer

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