Page 61 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

GENERAL INTEREST

Rabbi Hart Levine Rabbi Berel Wein

TETZAVEH AND THE MEGILLAH
The Hidden Author

n this year of 5781, here in Jerusa- make a mockery of human certainties are about wherever we turn. It is not only
lem, Parashat Tetzaveh coincides and predictions. fake news that confounds us, but also
Iwith the day of Purim itself. There Once again though, there is an unseen that we live in an era in which society
seem to be great similarities between and unmentioned director of events is actually shaped by the opinions of
this Torah reading and Megillat Esther. who is controlling the narrative of this others and human weaknesses.

After Moshe’s birth, until the end of the story. The Torah wishes to give us a direction
entire Torah, we find no parasha that Purim is the holiday that commemorates as to where truth can actually be found.
does not contain his name. this concept. Hence it hid the name of Moshe in this
Apart from one. There is no flash of lightning nor roar week’s Torah reading, and the name of
G-d in the book of Esther. If we wish
Moshe’s name never appears in of thunder. No volcanic eruptions to find G-d, we need to search within
Tetzaveh, even though we are aware that or plagues of locusts that mark this our own selves. The same is true of
he is the one who wrote this portion and miracle. Yet it is obvious that when we understanding and appreciating the
taught it to the Jewish people during his piece the whole story together as one Torah that Moshe wrote, gave and
time and for all eternity. whole, the miracle of the event becomes taught us. The Torah itself shows us
obvious and revealed, no matter how that we are not that distant from truth.
He is the hidden author, the director of hidden it was while it was being enacted
events behind the scenes. There have (read the words of the Rabbis in the Al But it cannot be found on the surface,
been many suggestions over the ages HaNissim prayer recited on Purim). but only within our own souls and
to explain why this is so. But for our tongues.
purposes here, it is sufficient simply Perhaps this is the reason why
to realize that Moshe is the teacher of Purim is such a day of unmitigated
the Torah par excellence who is hidden joy, because it represents the joy of
from us. As we will soon see, we are thousands who have discovered and
unraveled a mystery the solution of
made aware of the value of people which was not originally obvious nor
and ideas that remain hidden, not widely understood. It is the delight of
always exposed to the light of human discovery of the hidden Director that
inspection and society. The ability of fills us with both merriment and joy.
Moshe to remain hidden – and the When a hidden treasure is revealed,
benefit of his anonymity – is one of humans are usually overcome with a
the blessings of his noble character and feeling of great excitement, happiness
humble greatness. and achievement.

In the same vein, we know that G-d’s The great Chassidic master of Kotzk
Name does not appear in Megillat Esther. maintained that truth is always hidden
There is no reference whatsoever made from public view. He said that if it is
of the intercession and interference of revealed, it will be criticized, reviled
Heaven in the events described in the and discounted, for we live in a “false
written record of the story and miracle world,” to use the phrase the Talmud
of Purim. The book of Esther sounds chose to describe human existence.
like an exciting but completely rational Ultimate truth can only be found within
and understandable story of political one’s own self, and it takes an enormous
intrigue, psychologically-damaged amount of effort and searching to do so. Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of Beit
individuals, unforeseen salvation and Only the hidden eventually proves to be Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and Director
an example of the twists and turns that true, accurate and eternal. Falsehoods of the Destiny Foundation.

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