B"H
Tuesday, Adar2 5, 5782 / March 8, 2022
The holiday of Purimwill be celebrated next week, Wednesday night, March 16 & Thursday March 17.
The story of the Purim miracle is recorded in the Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther. Megilat Esther is read Purim night at the conclusion of the evening service and again Purim day in the morning service.
The Megilah is one of the Scriptures, yet, G-d’s name is not mentioned even once in the Megilah.
Q. The Purim miracle was one of the greatest miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people. Why then is G-d's name not mentioned in the Megilah?
A. Our sages explain that the miracle celebrated on Purim differs from other miracles in the Torah. All other holidays celebrate miracles which clearly showed G-d's involvement. For example, at the Exodus, at the splitting of the sea and at the Giving of the Torah, G-d's presence was obvious.
Also the miracle of Chanukah, when the Jewish people defeated the much stronger Greek army, was clearly a G-dly miracle. The miracle of the oil, where there was barely enough oil to keep the Temple Menorah lit for one day, yet, it lasted eight days, here too, G-d’s presence was strongly felt.
In the miracle of Purim, however, G-d’s presence was hidden. No laws of nature were broken. In fact, one can even make a mistake and attribute the saving of the Jewish people on Purim to natural cause; to Queen Esther’s intervention with the king for her people.
Yet, looking closely, we see G-d's hand throughout. In keeping with the hidden nature of this miracle, G-d's name is not found in the Megilah in a revealed way.
There is another reason why the Megilah avoids openly mentioning G-d's name. The story of Purim, as written in the Megilah, was also translated and entered into the records of Persia. Mordechai and Esther were afraid, if they include G-d’s name, the scribes of the land will substitute G-d’s name with the names of their idols. For this reason they refrained from mentioning G-d’s name in the Megilah.
Q. Mordechai and Esther both played an important role in the story of Purim. Why then is the Megilah called "Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther?"
A. The Megilah tells us that Esther's Jewish identity was originally not known, so her life was not endangered by Haman's decree. In spite of this, Esther risked death by revealing her Jewish identity in order to plead for her people. Since Esther put her life in danger, the Megilah was named after her.
Also, the sages at the time had their doubts about recording the story of Purim in the Megilah. Esther, however, insisted that the story of Purim be recorded and be added to our Holy Scriptures. Therefore, it was named "Megilat Esther."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY