In the course of life there are countless times when we make decisions that impact upon our future and destiny. The decisions may relate to medical treatment, religious matters, investments, careers, relationships, education, or interpersonal relationships. At times we reflect on a decision we made and realize that had we decided otherwise it would have spelled disaster, and at times we dream “if only” I had decided otherwise.
The Purim story that will be read on Purim, on Monday night and on Tuesday, contains many far ranging decisions.
The Medrash tells us that hundreds of years before the Purim events, while King David was fleeing for his life from his rebellious son Avshalom, the sage Shimi ben Gera brazenly cursed King David. By Jewish Law one who curses a king is subject to capital punishment. King David, seeing prophetically that Mordechai of the Purim story would be a descendant of Shimi, commuted his sentence. However King David instructed his son, King Shlomo, to carry out Shimi’s punishment after Shimi passed child bearing age.
When Mordechai heard that Haman authorized the genocide of the Jews, he dressed in sackcloth. When Queen Esther heard about this she sent Hasach – who was Daniel the prophet in disguise – to inquire from Mordechai the reason for his sorrow. Mordechai brought Esther up to date on the grave situation the Jews found themselves and asked her to approach the king to intercede on behalf of her nation.
Esther sent a message to Mordechai telling him that this was impossible because no one, not even the queen, was allowed to approach the king without being summoned, and if one were to enter without being called, they would be immediately killed. Esther also said that it doesn’t seem like an auspicious time, for she hadn’t been called to the king in the last thirty days.
Mordechai sent the following message to the Queen with Hasach, “Do not image that you will be able to escape the King’s palace any more than the rest of the Jews. For if you persist in remaining silent at a time like this, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from some other place while you and your father’s house will perish; and who knows whether it was for a time as this that you attained royalty.”
Queen Esther understood how desperate things were and the pivotal position she was in, and agreed to approach the king. She instructed Mordechai to assemble all the Jews in Shushan to fast and pray for three days on her behalf, and she and her maidens did so as well.
On the third day, Esther approached the king and due to many miracles the king received the queen positively. The Megilla explains that Esther invited Haman to two parties with just her and the king and that she finally divulged that she was a Jewess and that Haman had decreed to kill all the Jews. The king became infuriated and had Haman hanged on the gallows that he had prepared to hang his nemesis Mordechai. Esther was never haunted by a ‘what if’ I would have chosen not to go to the king.
It is interesting, that one of the three days the Jews fasted was the first night and day of Passover. That meant the Jews in Shushan did not eat anything at the Seder that year. How was Mordechai able to allow this – no Matzah, Morror, or four cups of wine? Mordechai reasoned that if they did not evoke G-d’s mercy with fasting it would have meant the certain genocide of the Jews, and that would mean there would be never be a Pesach in the future since there would be no Jews around to celebrate. Under these circumstances, with the threat to the life and future of the Jewish people, Mordechai decreed that they should forgo this one Pesach Seder so that many Seders in the future would be fulfilled.
Mordechai’s unusual instruction and the fact that all the Jews followed it, paved the way for our salvation, leaving no room for questioning or doubt.
This Parsha is the only parsha since Moshe’s birth that his name is omitted. Why? When G-d appeared to Moshe at the Burning Bush He tried to convince Moshe to take the mantle of leadership of the Jews in Egypt. For seven days He tried to convince Moshe to lead, then G-d became upset with Moshe who due to his great humility would not agree to take the position. G-d reacted by stripping Moshe and his descendants from being Kohanim – priests, and the Kehuna was transferred to his brother Aaron and his descendants.
Since the primary focus of this week’s portion is on the priestly garments of Aaron and his children, the Torah did not want to call Moshe’s name in order not to bring attention to the priestly garments that Moshe had given up.
G-d has entrusted and empowered us to form and create our own destiny!
