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Beit Midrash
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The co-hero of Megillat Esther, Mordechai, is introduced in a perplexing way (Esther 2:5). He is called an "ish Yehudi" in Shushan and, after listing his genealogy, is called an "ish Yemini." The gemara (Yevamot 12b) notes that the beginning of the pasuk sounds like he is from the Tribe of Yehuda, and the end sounds like he is from the Tribe of Binyamin. The gemara answers that Mordechai’s father was from Binyamin and his mother from Yehuda.
This fits beautifully with the thesis we have been promoting – to bring salvation, one needs a mix between the families of Rachel and Leah. Mordechai achieved his mixture through his mother and father. To this we add the unity call of his cousin, Esther, who said: "Go gather all the Jews" (Esther 4:16).
Let us return to the period of David. In addition to the chance of partnership with Shaul, Yonatan, and Michal, David had the possibility of partnership with Shaul’s cousin, Avner ben Ner. Even in Shaul’s lifetime, Avner and Ner thought that Avner was the one who was fit to be king. After Shaul died in battle, Avner coronated Shaul’s weak son, Ish Boshet (Shmuel II, 2:8-9), as king of 10 tribes. While titularly, Ish Boshet was king, in practice, he was a puppet of the actual leader, Avner. Avner eventually took a step toward becoming full king, and to show this, he took Shaul’s concubine, Ritzpa bat Aya. Ish Boshet, sensing what was transpiring, protested Avner’s action (ibid. 3:7). The slighted Avner decided that he preferred being David’s junior partner than to lead through Ish Boshet. The powerful Avner informed Ish Boshet and took immediate steps to reach out to David, then the King of Yehuda.
Under Avner’s plan, there would be a reuniting of all of the tribes, under David’s leadership (from Leah), with Avner (from Rachel) as his number 2. David accepted, but he made it conditional on the return of his wife Michal (ibid. 3:13). David phrased it, that Avner could "see my face" only if Michal returned and implied that Avner must be the one to bring her.
The term "seeing the kings face" returns us to Megillat Esther. Achashveirosh’s cabinet were called the seven ministers "who see the king’s face" (Esther 1:14). Indeed, for a monarch of that magnitude, not just anyone had the right to see the king’s face (comparing the incomparable – "… for a man will not see Me and live" (Shemot 33:20)).
When David demanded of Avner to bring Michal, David was hinting that David could unite the descendants of Rachel and Leach through his marriage with Michal. Thus, he did not need Avner’s partnership to do this. Still, David offered Avner a role in his cabinet in return for Avner’s support. Avner, who had already burned his bridges regarding Shaul’s family, was ready for a deal, but not one involving Michal. David arranged to get her back on his own, through Ish Boshet, now Avner’s rival. Unfortunately, the building of intertribal partnerships did not reach fruition, not through Avner and not through Michal.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
