Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

The Way We Learn

Parshat Tetzaveh-Purim: Exodus
27:20-30:10; Ezekiel 43:10-27.

Efrat, Israel

Ahashverosh's kingdom.
The Jews were the cream
he harsh winds
of Shushan. Ahashverosh
of anti-Semitism
has arbitrarily placed
are once again
total power in the hands
threatening our people
of a new Grand Vizier
with an increasing number
— Haman — who loses
of attacks on Jews around
no time in choosing a day
the world. But is it possible
when the Jews of Persia
that even anti–Semitism
may be murdered and their
has a redeeming quality?
homes looted.
Rabbi Shlomo
Let us look to the Purim
Mordechai, appears
Ris kin
story for the answer.
before the palace gates
Specia I to the
Purim captures the
dressed in sackcloth and
Jewish News
universal theme of good
ashes in a high-profile
triumphing over evil; but
demonstration on behalf of
for this one day a year,
his people. He can no lon-
our relatively strict Jewish way of
ger remain silent and bids Esther to
life is replaced with a carnival–like
come "out of the closet" to plead for
atmosphere of parades, drinking and her people before the King.
masks.
At that moment, placing her life on
It is necessary to explore the iden-
the line for her nation, Esther very
tity of Purim's real hero. Is it the
possibly becomes the first ba'alat
great Jewish beauty who wins the
teshuvah. She succeeds in her mis-
King's heart and becomes the voice
sion; the Jews in Persia are granted
of the Jews as she pleads before the
the right to defend themselves and
one man who has the power to save
Haman is hanged. The son she bears
or destroy her people?
with Ahashverosh, Darius, is the king
Or is the hero the king himself
who allows the Jews in Judea to corn-
who, despite being surrounded by
plete their Second Temple.
evil men — most notably Haman
On Purim, we are commanded to
— is able to rise above the prejudices drink. Without Haman, the tide of
towards Jews, who are scattered and
assimilation would have led to Jewish
dispersed across the land, keeping
oblivion. Thus, in a rather convo-
their own laws? When Ahashverosh
luted and twisted way, we owe our
permits the Jews to defend them-
continued existence to this classic
selves against their attackers, he
anti-Semite.
demonstrates the kind of wise sov-
Yes, it is natural to praise
ereignty select monarchs have had
Mordechai, but had it not been
toward their Jewish subjects through- for Haman, neither he nor Esther
out the ages.
would have stepped to the plate and
Or is Mordechai the hero? This
emerged as Jewish leaders. And we
humble, saintly, self–effacing man
need to drink in order to blot out the
whom Divine Providence put in the
difference between Jewish patriot and
right place at the right time, allowing Gentile anti-Semite who activated the
him to overhear the mutinous plot
Jewish patriot.
of two of Ahashverosh ' ministers,
We need the external stimulus of
thereby saving the king's life? Or per- wine in order to celebrate a Jewish
haps he's the hero because he never
victory which owes its genesis to
forgets he is a Jew, refusing to bow
anti-Semitism! And if Jews ever think
down to Haman no matter what the
that the diaspora is more secure than
consequences are.
our homeland Israel, let the Scroll of
We should pay close attention to
Esther remind them that diaspora
the talmudic dictum that on Purim,
assimilation and anti–Semitism are
we must drink until we cannot
the greatest dangers of all. O
tell the difference between cursing
Haman and blessing Mordechai.
Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah
Shushan was the capital of
Stone and the chief rabbi of Efrat.

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February 25 ' 2010