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
B"H
Wednesday, Adar2 6, 5782 / March 9, 2022
The story of Purim, recorded in the Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther, will be read next week on Purim - Wednesday night, March 16 and again on Purim day, Thursday, March 17.
Purim is the holiday when we celebrate the miracle of Jewish survival. Jewish survival is a great miracle indeed, for in every generation there are those who still want to annihilate us. Every generation has its Haman. Thus, Jewish survival is still a miracle today as it was in the past 2000 years.
This is why Purim is the most joyous holiday, for it celebrates our very existence to this day.
In fact, Purim is a very special holiday. Other Jewish holidays, such as Passover and Chanukah, which commemorate specific miracles, do not begin before, nor extend beyond the days of the holiday.
The miracle of Purim, which occurred on the 14th of Adar, is so special that it affects the entire month of Adar. This is why our sages state, "When the month of Adar enters, we increase in happiness. The entire month is a very joyous and happy one.
Q. Why is the holiday called Purim?
A. “Purim” comes from the word "pur" which means "lots."
The Megilah tells us that, upon receiving permission to annihilate the Jewish people, Haman cast "lots" for the best day and month in which to execute his plan. The lot fell on the 13th day of the month of Adar. Haman was very pleased, for he knew that Moshe (Moses) passed away in the month of Adar.
Haman said, "Now I am sure that my plan will succeed for the leader of the Jewish people died in Adar and thus this month must be an unlucky month for the Jews."
However, as our sages tell us, Haman didn't know that Moshe was born in Adar and as a result it turned out to be a good month for Israel and the month of Haman's downfall.
Thursday is the 7th of Adar - the day in which Moshe was born and the day in which Moshe passed away 120 years later. May his merit and memory be a blessing for all of Israel. Amen.
Q.Why, in a leap year (as this year) is Purim celebrated in the second Adar and not in the first Adar?
A. The Purim holiday as well as the Pesach (Passover) holiday both celebrate Jewish salvation. Pesach our salvation from Egypt and Purim celebrates our salvation from the hands of Haman. Because they both celebrate the miracle of our salvation and liberation, we celebrate Purim in the second Adar so that they are celebrated close to each other.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Adar2 7, 5782 / March 10, 2022
Purim will be celebrated in one week – Wednesday night, March 16 & Thursday, March 17. The Megilah is read Wednesday night and again on Thursday. There are five mitzvot associated with Purim, One of them is the reading of the Megilah – called, Megilat Esther – Scroll of Esther.
Q. Why is the Megilah spread out in a few layers during the reading, rather than rolled like a Torah?"
A. Queen Esther and Mordechai refer to the Megilah as "Igeret," the "letter". Thus, we fold the Megilah to look like a "letter."
Q. Why do we make noise when Haman's name is mentioned in the Megilah?
A. Haman descended from Amalek, who was the first nation to wage war against the Jewish people as they left Egypt. The Torah tells us that we must "erase the remembrance of Amalek". For this reason, when Haman’s name is mentioned, we "erase" his name by making noise thus blocking out his name.
There was an ancient custom where Haman's name was written upon two sticks. Every time Haman was mentioned, people would bang the sticks together until his name was erased!
Today, the 7th of Adar II, is the birthday and yartzeit (day of passing) of Moshe Rabeinu (Moses) - the great leader of the Jewish people. Moshe was born in Egypt on the 7th of Adar in the Hebrew year, 2368 and passed away on the 7th of Adar 120 years later in the year 2488.
Moshe led the Jewish people out of Egypt, split The Sea for them, brought them to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah and led the people of Israel through their forty-year journey in the wilderness of Sinai.
No other Jewish leader attained the greatness of Moshe; as the Torah says, "Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet in Israel like Moshe, whom the L-rd knew face to face."
Yet, at the same time, the Torah tells us, "Moshe was the most humble person from all the people upon the face of the earth!"
Greatness and humility go hand in hand. Just as Moshe's greatness was more than anyone else's, his humility was also at a level not attained by anyone else.
Moshe passed away in the Sinai desert at the age of 120 and was buried there with the people whom he led out of Egypt. Moshe’s brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, were also buried there.
Moshe's leadership didn't end at the time of his passing. Part of his spirit is within every Jew in every generation. May his memory be a blessing for all of Israel. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Adar2 8, 5782 / March 11, 2022
This Shabbat we read Parshat Vayikra, beginning the third Book of the Torah – the book of Leviticus.
The Parsha speaks about the various sacrifices brought upon the altar in the Mishkan-Tabernacle.
Being that this is the Shabbat before Purim, we also read from a second Torah about the story of Amalek. The reading in the second Torah begins with the word, Zachor- Remember. This Shabbat is called "Shabbat Zachor," because the special reading begins with the word “Zachor” - ”Remember”.
Parshat Zachor states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt; He met you on the way and cut down all the weak trailing behind you while you were weary and exhausted. He did not fear G-d. Therefore, when the L-rd your G-d will relieve you of all your enemies around you, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you as a heritage, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from beneath the heaven. Do not forget!"
The reason we read Parshat Zachor before Purim is because Haman, who tried to annihilate the Jewish people, which resulted in the miracle of Purim, was a direct descendant of Amalek.
Q. Many other nations waged war against the Jewish people, why is the nation of Amalek singled out to the extent that we are commanded to erase the memory of Amalek?
A. Amalek was the first nation to wage war against the Jewish people after the Exodus. All subsequent wars and incitement against the Jewish people are rooted and a continuation of the war which Amalek began. We read this portion before Purim so that we shall never forget what Amalek did.
It also serves as a reminder that just as G-d saved us from Amalek and Haman, so too, will He protect us against those who, openly or through various disguises, in every generation, try to spread hate against the Jewish people.
Q. One of the mitzvot we perform on Purim is sending gifts of food to friends, called - "Shalach Manot." What is the reason for this mitzvah?
A. One reason that G-d allowed Haman's terrible decree to take place was because Jews participated and ate non-kosher food at King Achashverosh's party. By exchanging kosher food items on Purim, we rectify this fault.
Another reason: Sending Shalach Manot-gifts on Purim, is an expression of friendship and unity. We thank G-d for the great miracle of Purim in which our lives were saved by showing our Father-in-Heaven, that we are united and care for each other. There is no greater pleasure for a father than to see his children caring for each other.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:36 / Shabbat ends: 6:41
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