The ten plagues that G-d sent against the Pharoh and the Egyptians spanned a ten-month period. Most of the plagues had a three-week warning period, and then the plague lasted for a week’s time.
The Jews were freed in the month of Nisan – the month when we celebrate Pesach.
If we work backward, ten months before Nissan is the month of Tamuz. Thus, it was in the month of Tamuz that the first plague of blood occurred. The month of Av was host to frogs. Elul – lice. Tishrei – wild animals. Cheshvan – pestilence. Kislev – boils. Teves – hail and fire. Shevat – locust. Adar – darkness. Nisan – slaying of the first born.
We are currently in the month of Adar which is when two forms of darkness fell upon the Egyptians. The first three days of the plague the Egyptians couldn’t see, yet they were able to move around. The second three days, the darkness was so thick that the Egyptians couldn’t even move; they each remained frozen in the same position.
Our Sages tell us that during the plague of darkness many Jews who did not want to leave Egypt, and may have even planned to prevent their brethren from exiting, died in the midst of the plague. They were buried by their fellow Jews during the plague when the Egyptians weren’t able to see what was going on.
The Chidah points out that when Haman drew lots in order to determine the date to exterminate the Jews, he was thrilled that it landed on Adar, the month that our leader Moshe passed away. Furthermore, he was elated that the date of the month, the 13th of Adar, was drawn since it was an auspicious date since many Jews died on that date in Egypt during the plague of darkness.
In the story of Purim after Haman and his ten sons were hanged, Esther and Mordechai had to convince King Achashvairosh to amend Haman’s original decree which stated that the Jews were forbidden to defend themselves on the 13th of Adar. They changed it so that the Jews would now be allowed to defend themselves on the 13th of Adar.
Indeed, the Jews were able to defeat their enemies, and the Megilla records that the Jews killed in war on the 13th and 14th days of Adar over 75,800 of those that hated us. Of course, because of this great victory and salvation of the Jews, our Sages established the festive holiday of Purim, where we are to read the Megilla at night and during the day of the 14th of Adar. On Purim day we send Meshloach Monos – parcels of food to each other, we give monetary gifts to the poor and we are to have a festive meal with wine.
We still have to figure out what happened to Haman’s calculation that the 13th day of Adar is a day of doom for the Jews since many Jews died during these days during the plague of darkness.
Well, Haman only focused on the gloom and doom of the Jewish people. Haman failed to recognize and consider that the Torah tells us that during the plague of darkness – for the Children of Israel there was ‘Ohr’ light in their dwellings! This Ohr was a physical illumination and a spiritual illumination as well.
Says the Chidah, the Ohr/light that the Jews experienced in Egypt during darkness generated a spiritual Ohr/light awakening for the Jews when they overcame the bleak darkness of Haman’s decree when they were saved in the Purim story. The Megilla captures this when it states, Layehudim Haysah Orah V’Simcha V’Soson V’yikar – “And for the Jews there was a renewed Ohra – light – which refers to their ability to study Torah, Simcha – joy – the refreshed mode of observing the holidays, Sason – they were able to perform bris – circumcisions and Yekor – they were able to observe the Mitzvah of Tefilin.”
To underline the importance of this verse, that with trust and commitment to G-d, G-d transforms our challenges to Ohr light – it is customary during the Megilla reading for the congregation to read this verse aloud.
Throughout the Megilla we see that Haman’s destructive plans levied against the Jews continually boomeranged against him. G-d switched things around for His children and brought them salvation. The Megilla spans a 9-year period of time and is a snapshot of our miraculous existence. Since then our journey as a people has had clear and cloudy periods of time. A Megilla scroll detailing and exposing the hidden details of our existence has not been scribed since the Megilla of Esther was scribed. The time will come when we will be redeemed and at that point it will all be exposed and understood!
We await that day!
Over the past 30 years I have had the privilege to share weekly Torah thoughts, insights and inspiration through the means of the Shabbat Shalom Message.
With this edition, I complete 30 cycles of Torah portions, 1594 editions. I began in February 1995 with the portion of Vayakeil and with Hashem’s help I was able to continue each week, only missing three weekly editions.
Taking a personal responsibility to think of something to write and then pen it each week requires time, work and effort. I could not have done it or do it without the support of my wife Malki who has been incredibly supportive and my children’s admiration towards my efforts.
I have been blessed with two phenomenal editors, Rabbi Shmuel Flam and Mrs. Madeleine Jacobs who generously give of their time and expertise to review and fine-tune each edition. Thank you and may Hashem bless you and your families.
I thank my companions, the Torah Seforim/books where I further glean the great wisdom of Torah.
I try my best to be clear, concise and to the point to reach a very broad spectrum of readers. I thank my father o.b.m., Rabbi Boruch Saks, for emphasizing the importance of presenting Torah in a way that is understandable to all.
Thirty-four years ago, my wife and I embarked on starting Jewish Heritage Connection to service the Scranton/Clarks Summit PA broader Jewish community through Jewish education, experience and personal friendship. I feel fortunate and privileged to serve the community and we have become personally enriched by the friendships, relationship and acquaintances over the years.
I thank the sponsors of the Shabbat Messages and kind and generous benefactors of the JHC for all their support.
I thank Hashem for everything – I recognize that nothing can be done without His continuous energy, power and blessing He provides, and I pray for more; for myself, my family, friends, the readership, the community and to all of Klal Yisroel!
