Page 40 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

PURIM READING

Esther, Chapter Four

— ד קרפ ,רתסא תליגמ — Rabbi Judah Dardik

Joining the Jewish Journey

pon hearing the news of the Mordechai’s description of how G-d message to Esther is she should remem-
destructive royal decree against guides history casts these sorts of deci- ber it is not her royal position that best
Uthe Jews, Mordechai sends a sions in an unexpected light. There is a assures her safety in the long-run, but
personal message to Esther. “He [sent] classic debate among the great medieval rather her participation and member-
the text of the law that had been pro- thinkers regarding how involved G-d is ship in the eternal nation.
claimed… for their destruction... [to] in the lives of most individuals. Some 1
show it to Esther… and charge her to maintain that G-d’s hashgachah (Divine On the day-to-day level, the theological
go to the king and to appeal to him and providence) appears in even the more issue of the extent to which G-d inter-
to plead with him for her people” (4:8). minor details of all of our daily lives and venes in our lives remains in question.
Esther demurs, citing the very real risk events. Others contend that the lives of But the message in this chapter, at the
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to her life if she dares to approach the most people are governed by the laws heart of the story of Esther, is one that
king uninvited. “All the… people of the of nature and normal cause and effect, looks to the bigger picture. We tend to
king’s provinces know that if any person, with the exception of the particularly think our role in tefillah is to daven for
man or woman, enters the king’s pres- righteous. However, even those in the G-d to save the Jews, when perhaps in
ence in the inner court without having latter camp agree that G-d intervenes in truth it is through our davening that we
been summoned, there is but one law matters that affect the fate of Am Yisrael include ourselves in the Jewish people,
for him—that he be put to death” (4:11). as a whole. Even if it were possible to who will ultimately be saved.

It is at this moment that Mordechai escape one’s identity, denying it would
speaks some of the most concurrently leave us on the sidelines of the forward
chilling and uplifting words ever spoken march into a better future. 1 Chovot HaLevavot 3 (introduction), 4:3, 4:4,
in Tanach: “Do not imagine that you, Esther looks at the situation and makes 8:3 (19th reason) and elsewhere, one reading
of all the Jews, will escape with your the sensible initial decision. If she goes of Ramban Shemot 13:16, etc.
life by being in the king’s palace. On to Achashverosh of her own accord, she 2 Notably the Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim
the contrary, if you keep silent in this will likely be killed. That is the rule. But 3:17–18.
crisis, relief and deliverance will come Mordechai directs her attention away
to the Jews from elsewhere, while you from the decrees of this earthly Persian
and your father’s house will perish. And king, and towards the rules of the King
who knows, perhaps you have attained of the Universe. G-d made a covenant
to royal position for just such a crisis” with our earliest ancestors and prom-
(4:13-14). Esther takes Mordechai’s ised that Am Yisrael will always sur-
charge to heart, agrees to approach vive even the most difficult times. The
Achashverosh, and her actions save the Jewish people have a role to play in the
lives of countless Jews in the kingdom. world and in history, and will live to see

I shiver every time I read Mordechai’s our mission to its successful conclusion.
words. To be a Jew is to be a part of the That long term destiny is guaranteed.
greatest and longest running story in What is not guaranteed is the fate of
history. We have deep roots in the past, the individual.
have been through and accomplished an
extraordinary amount, and have always The Jewish people will survive, even
carried a long-term vision towards the thrive. But what of the individual Jew? Rabbi Judah Dardik is Assistant Dean of
future. But the going has frequently No particular person in history is nec- Yeshivat Orayta.
been tough, and it is understandably essary for G-d’s plan; someone else
tempting to think one could save one- could come along and assume any role A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
self by hiding from this identity. that needs to be played. Mordechai’s mizrachi.org/speakers

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