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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Essence of Purim
At this same meal, the Jews watch aghast as Achashverosh appears dressed in the clothes of the Kohen Gadol, and then brings out the holy vessels of the Bet HaMikdash from which to drink and eat.
What is going on here? What message is Achashverosh trying to convey, by both inviting the Jews to his banquet and then doing some-thing that shocks them to the very core? And what happens to make both Achashverosh and Haman decide to solve their "Jewish question" once and for all? The answer to these questions go the essence of what Megilat Esther is REALLY about.
Like many rulers in history, Achashverosh is willing to tolerate the Jews, to welcome them even, because he knows how "clever" Jews are, how good they are for business, what excellent advisors they make. Mordechai joins the ranks of Joseph, Abravanel, Daniel, et al, as expert counsel to the royal court. Achashverosh is even willing to accommodate the special needs of the Jews, their meals and minhagim, because that represents no threat to him. But one thing he cannot abide: He cannot permit us to fulfill our ultimate destiny of living in our own land, under our own rule, with our own Bet HaMikdash. By wearing the garments of the Kohen Gadol he sends the message: "You Jews can practice your faith here as a minority, but you are NOT going back to Jerusalem, you will NOT rebuild your Bet HaMikdash and re-establish the Avoda; you are confined to the Diaspora." He will tell Esther more than once, "Up to the half of the kingdom, and it shall be granted to you." What is the half he will NOT grant? The restoration of Jewish sovereignty - that alone is not up for discussion.
What changes his disposition and turns him into a partner to genocide? Mordechai! For Mordechai is a proud, uncompromisingly courageous Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin that is a major component of our national identity, a potent symbol of our nationhood and spiritual supremacy. When Achashverosh is confronted by Mordechai - who will have none of the "Diaspora mentality" practiced by his co-religionists - he accedes to the urgings of Haman and seals the edict of our destruction.
But Hashem hears our cry and sees our Fast; He answers our prayers and reverses Achashverosh's mindset. Haman is executed & Achashverosh becomes the very instrument for the Bet HaMikdash to be rebuilt, through his and Esther's son Darius II, who renews the decree of Cyrus to allow the Temple to be restored. This is the crucial post-script which permits us to celebrate Purim at all, for while only events which occur in Israel can become national celebrations, Purim is accepted because it's ultimate purpose is the restoration of the Temple.
The message of all this is obvious: We may enjoy periods of prosperity and popularity in the Diaspora; we may get oodles of kosher noodles and the accoutrements of Yiddishkeit in countries around the globe. But the focal point of Jewish life must be to re-establish ourselves in our own Land, operating under our own rule, fulfilling the Torah to its fullest. When that becomes our collective mandate and our mission, we have a fighting chance to restore the Sanhedrin, bring Moshiach, and usher in the Geula.
Anything else is just a mask.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
