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February 22 • 2018

jn

an you imagine a story that
neglects to mention the main
character?
This week’s Torah portion seems
to do just that. Tetzaveh is the only
portion since the arrival of Moses on
the Torah scene (with his birth in the
Parshat of Shemot) until the very end
of the Five Books, in which
all throughout the entire book.
there is no mention of the
Until we read between the
name Moses. It is indeed
lines.
mystifying. Moses is the
The story of Purim is unique
central figure of each story-
in that one can easily argue
line. He is God’s conduit of
that it was all just fortunate
the entire Torah message
coincidence. We had promi-
to the Jewish people. Torah
nent diplomats in the right
declares him as the essen-
places, and a negotiated settle-
Menachem
tial link in all its teachings,
ment was achieved. In stark
Mendel Polter
hence the title: The Five
contrast to the other miracle
Books of Moses.
holidays we celebrate where
The commentaries explain
there were awesome breaches in
that after the Jewish people betrayed
the natural order that saved the day.
God with the sin of the Golden Calf,
But Purim celebrates God as the
God declared to Moses that he would
constant orchestrator behind the
eradicate the present nation and
scene.
rebuild one anew through Moses and
Even when the plot seems to roll
his personal descendants. But Moses
out naturally and inevitably, God is
demanded that God spare the people
intimately directing the events.
and “Forgive their sin!” And, if not,
Esther is telling us that even when
He seems absent, God secretly
“erase me now from Your book that
remains devoted to us. His missing
You have written.”
name should inspire within us an
The words of the righteous still cre-
awareness of His constant compan-
ate some residual effect of its original
ionship. With every step on our road
intent. So, although God did ulti-
through life, He walks with us. We
mately spare the nation and forgive
should always remind ourselves of His
their sin, the name Moses would be
presence. We should take comfort that
somewhat erased. His name is, there-
He lovingly “has our back” and honor
fore, absent in this one portion of the
the awesome privilege of His divine
Torah.
company. •
But the missing name is not neces-
sarily negative.
Menachem Mendel Polter is a rabbi at the
It can be interpreted as hidden
Woodward Avenue Shul in Royal Oak
praise. Moses exemplified the com-
mitment and devotion of a true leader.
He was ready to sacrifice and forsake
QUESTIONS
his life’s work — his connection to
• Where does the name Purim come
the Torah — on behalf of the Jewish
from? And why do we use that
people. You might say that the glaring
word to describe the miracle?
omission of his name is a “trophy” in
• Why do we disguise ourselves in
tribute to the self-effacing devotion of
costume on Purim?
Moses.
• How was the decree of the
Fascinatingly, a similar phenom-
Persians during the period of
enon seems at play in the Book of
the Purim story different from
Esther — the miraculous Purim story.
the decree of the Greeks in the
The “main character” — the Miracle
Chanukah story?
Worker — is not mentioned even
once. God’s name does not appear at

Parshat Tetzaveh:
Exodus 27:20-30:10;
Samuel 15:2-34
(Shabbat Zachor)

