I read the following ideas in Manantíales de la Torá, the weekly publication of thought from R' Biderman, shlita. Usually on the parasha, this week on Purim. Usually five to ten pages; this week 41! I almost didn't print it out, figuring I wouldn't have time. (Because I am who I am and I print it out in Spanish.) I have not yet read all of it, but what I have read is way eye opening!
Here's a cute gematria type vort for the Purim s'udah. The mishna says there are cases where the Megilla could be read on the following days of Adar: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 -- and the mishna concludes: Not after and not before! Ok, fine, the exclamation point is mine... but that's how it feels when you read the mishna. I mean, I get it -- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; of course those dates and not others. But let's read it carefully; it doesn't say "these and no others", but "not after and not before." Add up 11+12+13+14+15 and you get 65, which is the gematria of אדנ''י, which refers to the name through which HaShem runs the world, שם אדנות/Hashem's aspect of Majesty. That is, the day to day running of the so-called natural world. We are supposed to look through that veil of nature expressed so clearly in the Megilla and see HaShem's Majestic running of the world. What comes before and after? 10 and 16; whose sum is 26 -- the gematria of HaShem's ineffable name. Purim is a day to study nature to see HaShem, not to look beyond, into the supernatural.
Two examples I found very striking: one on the absolute disregard for budget, the other timing.
The Megilla begins "in the days of Achashverosh" and "when the king Achashverosh was seated on his royal throne in the capital city of Shushan." Throughout the Megilla, we see Achashverosh as -- at best -- supporting cast. Esther and Mordechai are the stars, Haman is the villain. We need a king, Achashverosh got the part. In fact, Achashverosh was the first king to have his capital in Shushan. The previous kings lived in Bavel. How did Achashverosh get to Shushan and why is his throne important? Achashverosh wanted a throne like Shlomo HaMelech. The only artisans with the requisite skills lived in Shushan. Achashverosh commissioned them to build a magnificent throne for him. They did. One problem... it was too heavy to move. Sigh... what is a king to do? Achashverosh had a palace built around his magnificent throne and moved the entire government to Shushan.
Why did he do that? Because Esther and Mordechai, the stars and reason for being of the Megilla and Purim, lived in Shushan. Rather than bother Esther and Mordechai to relocate, HaShem relocated Achashverosh and his entourage.
Timing? That night when Achashverosh couldn't sleep. That dramatic moment when Haman walks into Achashverosh's bedchamber and is asked, "How should we reward the person the king wants to honor?" You know how that goes.
But think -- it was the middle of the night; how often do you think Haman walked into Achashverosh's bedchamber at all... let alone the middle of the night! Moreover, had Haman walked in a minute or two earlier, he would have known that Achashverosh was talking about Mordechai. A moment or two later? Achashverosh would have already thought of something. It had to be just at that moment, just on that night, in just that location.
Review all the details carefully during the night reading, then note well in the morning how each and every detail is a critical component of the entire picture. Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting cast, Best Director.
Comments