Page 9 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Revealing the Internal Jewish Spark

he mitzvot of Purim are charac- It seems that assimilation ignited the Purim to Yom HaKippurim. On both of
terized by the joyful atmosphere Divine decree, leading to the course of these days, the inner spark of the spe-
Tthey create, and the command- events described in the Megillah. Mor- cial connection between G-d and Am
ment for these mitzvot repeats itself dechai, as opposed to the other Jews Yisrael is revealed.
in Megillat Esther multiple times in around him, does not hide his Jewish
chapter 9. What is the reason for these identity, and is not prepared to bow to On Yom Kippur, the special connec-
great celebrations and for the repeated Haman. By doing so, he emphasizes tion between G-d and Am Yisrael is
emphasis not to forget this holiday? his inner Jewish spark. Haman sees in expressed through the Kohen Gadol’s
entry into the holiest site, and every Jew
The simple reason is that the Jews were Mordechai not just a personal threat, sanctifies themselves through prayer
saved from destruction. Haman’s decree but a national and theological one, and fasting, until their souls are cleansed
placed the Jews in Achashverosh’s king- and therefore is not only interested in and cling to their Creator. On Purim,
dom in great danger, seemingly leaving harming Mordechai, but all the Jews. In the special connection between G-d
them no chance of survival. In unex- the end, Haman (like many antisemites and Am Yisrael is expressed through
pected fashion, the decree was reversed throughout the generations) is the one the willingness to sacrifice oneself for
who reminds the Jews of their Judaism
and the Jews were saved from genocide. one’s emunah and for that connection
ֹ
It is thus very appropriate to celebrate and of the fact that ל ָּ כ ִ מ ת ֹונ ׁש ם ֶ הי ֵ ת ָ ד ְ ו between every Jew and G-d, through
such a turnaround and the significant ם ָ ע, “their religion is different from all fighting for Am Yisrael’s existence.
salvation of the Jews from their ene- other nations.” Haman is the one who
mies’ hands. turns all of the Jews into “Mordechais” This is why Purim is such a happy day.
who refuse to bow down to foreign It isn’t empty happiness, but happiness
Adding another level – the fact that influences. which expresses the deep connection
Mordechai and Esther do not institute From the moment the decree was between Am Yisrael and their Father
a day for a victory parade, but a day of enacted, the Jews no longer attempt in Heaven and the mutual covenantal
performing mitzvot, reminds every Jew to assimilate; just the opposite. First, bond: the great responsibility of Am
in every generation that the salvation they join together to fast, as Mordechai Yisrael to emunah and mitzvot, and
was not human or by chance, but Divine and Esther command. Esther, whose G-d’s responsibility to save them from
and miraculous. Thus, the miracle of name is reminiscent of hiding, and who the hands of their enemies in each and
Purim joins the miracles of every gen- until now, hid in the palace and hid her every generation.
eration and strengthens the mindset of Judaism, reveals her identity to Achash-
ׁ שֹוד ָּ ק ַ ה ְ ו ּונ ֵ תֹו ּ ל ַ כ ְ ל ּוני ֵ ל ָ ע םי ִ ד ְ מֹוע רֹוד ָ ו רֹו ּ ד ל ָ כ ְּ ב ׁ ֶ ש verosh and openly and bravely acts on
ְ
ם ָ דָּי ִ מ ּונ ֵ לי ִּ צ ַ מ אּוה ךּור ָּ ב, “in every generation behalf of her nation. In the end, the Jews
they stand against us to wipe us out, but no longer hide before their enemies but
HaKadosh Baruch Hu saves us from stand up and defend themselves, even
their hands.” killing their enemies, something not at
We can also see within the Purim all obvious in galut.
story an additional, deeper point. At
the beginning of the Megillah, the Jews If so, the denouement in the Megillah
dwell throughout the Persian empire, was not solely salvation from physical
even assimilating, as the Gemara says genocide, but the revalation of the inner
(Megillah 12a): “Rabbi Shimon bar Jewish spark, the willingness to deal
Yochai’s students asked him: ‘Why did with its meaning and consequences,
the Jews deserve destruction in the gen- and even to fight for it.
eration [of Mordechai and Esther]?’... Now we can understand what the Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
‘Because they took part in the feast of Tikunei HaZohar (57) says, comparing and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh
the evil [Achashverosh].’” website.

| 9