DRINK O' METER

The Beur Halacha asks the question, how can Chazal say that people should drink if they run the possibility of hurting themselves?

The Eliya Rabba answers that people do not have to drink it is just Lichatchila to. This is a day of Kedusha, not a day to be idiots, a cheshbon MUST be made so that no brachos are missed!

The Gemara in Messeches Megilla 7b tells the story of Rava and Rav Zeira who ate their Seuda together. Rava drank so much that he ultimately killed Rav Zeira. Rav Zeira came back to life. Upon being asked to rejoin him the next year, R’ Zeira responded, “We do not depend on Miracles”. The Q is…….

Q: How much should one drink on Purim?

- The Gematria of Arrur Haman and Baruch Mordechai is 502 – When you can no longer figure out the Gematria you have drunk too much.

- (Taz and Gr”a) Until you can no longer contemplate which victory was greater: The win of Mordechai or the demise of Haman.

- (Yad Efraim) Drink enough that you still understand (Ad Bichlall) the difference between Arrur Haman and Baruch Mordechai. Once you pass this point you have lost the ikkar mitzvos hayom.

- (Tosafos) Until you no longer know the words to Shoshanas Yaakov

- (Baal Hamaor) The Gemara tells the story of Rava and R’ Zeira to show that Chazal were entirely mivatel the Chiyuv to drink. (Problem: If this was true then why did R’ Zeira turn down Rava the next year?)

- (Rambam) Until one falls asleep from being drunk.

- (Rama) Until one can fall asleep/ a little bit more than one is used to.

Please Do not Drink and Drive!

*All Heard from R' Shaya Greenwald Shlit"a (Yeshivas Ohr Yerushalayim)

This is Why We Call Our Holiday Purim

Megillas Esther 3:7 “In the first month, which is the month of Nissan, in the twelfth year of King Achashveirosh, pur was cast in the presence of Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.”

“Tanna: When a lot was pulled from the month of Adar, Haman was incredibly happy. He said, ‘I picked a lot that represents the month that Moshe died.’ He didn’t know however that on the 7^th of Adar, Moshe died and that on the 7^th of Adar he was also born.” – (Megillah 13b)

Why was it such a great thing that Moshe was born in Adar, regardless he also ultimately died during that month? Also, why is the holiday called Purim, don’t we usually name our holidays based off of the miracle that happened to us; the Pur was the key to our supposed downfall?

Rav Moshe Feinstein Zt”l explains in the introduction to his work Darash Moshe, that the other Nations of the world believe that there are specific people who are considered to be ‘holy’. These people wear distinct clothing, they don’t get married, and they don’t drink alcohol. All of this however is fake holiness. Using this system, the rest of the people can respond that only the holy people have to keep the commandments of morality and trust but normal people are free to do whatever they please. Not only that but if by chance one of these ‘holy people’ slips and sins all of their observers will rationalize that because this clergyman can sin, so can they. The rules of modern society are thus dictated by these ‘holy people’ who can toy with the rules as they please.

The Torah however is not like this. The Torah tells us that everyone must abide by the same laws and moral code. We are all on the same level. This can be learned out from Moshe Rabbeinu who was born and who had a wife. He matched everyone else. Every person whether they be great or simple has the same laws. From this it can be that a great person learns from a simple person and vice versa. For both of them were born and their present stature is only a testament to the amount that they have worked.

As a result of this, if a great and knowledgeable Torah scholar slips from the path of the Torah, people do not follow his ways because they realize that all of the scholar’s greatness is from the Torah. Once this person leaves the path of the Torah he is no longer considered to be a Gadol. (As discussed in, “A Nation of Mordechais”)

Now we can understand why Haman was ecstatic to see that the lot fell in Adar. Haman was of the understanding that since Moshe, the great leader of Klal Yisrael had died their grasp of the Torah had weakened as well. The truth however was the complete opposite. Just like Moshe died during this month he was also born. Each and every Jew, from the moment of their birth has the potential to be great like Moshe. Moshe’s death was just a reminder to the Jewish people that Moshe was not supernatural but that he was a great person. Not only that but when people see that a great Talmid Chacham has died they feel the need to fill this void with more Talmidei Chachamim. A Tzaddik’s death only strengthens Klal Yisrael.

We therefore see that when Haman picked the “pur” and it was the month of Adar, He made a tremendous miscalculation. This miscalculation was our fortune. This is why we call our holiday Purim.

HAVE A FREILECHEN PURIM !

A Nation of Mordechais

Megillas Esther 3:6 “However, it seemed contemptible to him to send [his] hand against Mordechai alone, for they had told him of [Am Mordechai] the people of Mordechai”

It is said over in the name of Rav Itzele Blazer that at the beginning Haman’s plan was to force Mordechai to bow down to him. He wanted to do this because he realized that Mordechai was their leader and if he bowed then they would all ultimately bow down.

Haman eventually learned of ‘Am Mordechai’, i.e. Klal Yisroel, a nation that had a strong tradition and had stood the test of time. Only then, did Haman realize that even if Mordechai were to succumb and bow down to him, HIS NATION still would not. Jewish law dictates that if a Talmid Chacham violates the Torah he is considered to be a weak link in the congregation. If Mordechai were to make the decision to bow down to Haman, Klal Yisrael would immediately lose respect for him. Not only would they not bow, but they would become a stronger force than they had previously been. After coming to this realization, Haman refocused his hatred not only to Mordechai but to the Nation (Am) Mordechai as well.

Was Esther Crazy?

Megillas Esther 7:6 “And Esther said, a despicable man, this terrible Haman”

“Rabbi Eliezer said, we can learned from here that Esther originally pointed to Achashveirosh when she said, “a despicable man”, immediately an angel came and pushed her hand in the direction of Haman” – (Yalkut Shimoni Esther)

It seems rather crazy, how is it possible that Esther HaMalka ever would have considered pointing at Achashveirosh?! Didn’t she realize that by doing so, she was putting herself and the rest of Klal Yisrael in danger?

Rav Shlomo HaLevi Alkabeitz answers in Manos HaLevi (his work on Megillas Esther) that Esther wanted to give herself up for death.

Esther knew the law, that if anyone in the royal family dies all of the Kingdom’s edicts and decrees were relinquish, she therefore wished to give up her own life, so that Klal Yisrael would not have be annihilated.

Charvonah Zachor LaTov!

Megillas Esther 1: 10 - “Charvonah”

Interestingly, in Megillas Esther when speaking about Achashveirosh’s Servant, Charvonah, his name is spelled in two different ways. In the first Perek ( 1:10)an ‘Aleph’ is at the end of his name and in the seventh Perek, (7:9) “Charvonah one of his officers said before the king, here is the tree that Haman had made for Mordechai…” his name is spelled with a ‘Hey’?!

In his Responsa, Mayim Chaim, Rav Chaim HaKohen Rappaport answers that in the Sefer Beis Shmuel on Gittin it is written that when a name ends with an ‘Aleph’ it means that the name is a secular name, but when it ends with a ‘Hey’ it is a holy name.

Rav Rappaport continues to answer that at first Charvonah’s name was mentioned with an ‘Alef’, because that was his true essence, he was a gentile officer of the King. In the seventh Perek however Chazal say that the Charvonah that was mentioned was not the gentile officer but that he was Eliyahu HaNavi coming in the form of Charvonah to tell Achashveirosh that Haman should be killed on the gallows that he had set aside to kill Mordechai on. Therefore he was truly a holy person, and the name Charvonah is written with a ‘Hey’.

How did Mordechai feed Esther?????????

2:7 “Vayihi Omein Es Hadasa Hi Esther Bas Dodo”

The Medrish in (Breishis Rabba, Parsha 30) mentions a “Peledicka Zach”: Mordechai looked around all of Shushan for a wet-nurse for Esther. After much time spent-- he couldn’t find one. In the end, Hashem did a miracle and gave him the ability to nurse her.

Where in the Megillah can this interesting Medrish be learned out from?

Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit”a writes that it is possible that this Peleh can be learned out from the pasuk, “Vayihi Omein es Hadassa Hi Esther”. We know that every time that the term Vayihi is used it connotes something negative (See [Va]yihi vs. [Vi]haya). What was the negative thing that happened here?

Rav Chaim answers that Mordechai needed an Omenes (wet nurse) but could not find one. When it said Vayihi Omen it connotes that he himself fed Esther.

After discussing the matter with my friend Gabi, he told me about a Rama Mipanu in Shaar Hagilgulim which quotes a story about a man who needed a wet-nurse. After much time searching, he still could not find one. One day, “out of the blue”, Hashem gave him the ability to nurse his child. The Rama MePanu says that this person was a gilgul of Mordechai!

[Va]yihi vs. [Vi]haya

Megillas Esther 1:2 “Vayihi Bimei Achachveirosh” – “And it was in the days of Achashveirosh”

(Esther Rabba, Psichtos, 11) Every place when it says “Vayihi” – it connotes sorrow. What is the sorrow that is suggested at the beginning of Megillas Esther? Haman HaRasha began his ruse to destroy the Jewish people.

Adding on to the above Midrash, the Nachlas Dovid points out that every place it says, “ViHaya” it is a connotation of happiness that is to come.

The root of the word Vayihi = Yihi (will be) however is clearly connected with something that is to happen in the future. By simply adding a vav at the beginning of the word we change the word from future tense to past tense – [Va]Yihi.

The same has proven to be true with the word ViHaya. By simply adding a vav infront of the word haya (it was) the word becomes – [Vi]Haya, which has a connotation towards the future. (“Vihaya Biacharis Ayamim” – “And it will be in the end of days”)

Now that we understand that the added Vav entirely switches the meaning of the word. We can begin to understand as to why the word Vayihi = sorrow and why Vihaya = happiness.

One who is left in sorrow wishes to switch the circumstances of their present situation to the way that it used to be in the past. On the flipside, one who is presently in a state of happiness wishes that their happiness and good fortune will stick with them into the future.

Megillas Esther leaves us with mixed feelings. At the beginning we started with a VaYihi nevertheless at the end we had feelings of a Vihaya. Iy”H, we should only have to say Vihaya and no longer be forced to say the painful and sorrowful term - Vayihi.

How We Celebrate Purim

ADAR @ Mickey D's!!!!!

* Maybe the sign should say rarely or usually not Kosher....who knows!?
**Click on the Title for more info on Adar!

MiShnichnas Adar Marbim BiSimcha

It says in the Shulchan Aruch ( Siman 686 Sif 3 M"B S"K 8) "MiShenichnas Adar Marbim BiSimcha" "When Adar starts everyone should be overtaken with happiness".

It is therefore a mitzvah to be overcome with joy during this month. We should feel this wholeheartedly both through our feelings and our actions. There are those that even go so far as to say that the month of Nisan also carries with it this obligation to be overcome with joy. The reason for this is because miracles happened for Klal Yisrael during both of these months.

The most common practice in Jewish communities is to hang up signs that say Mi Shenichnas Adar Marbim BiSimcha". Some however, make a point of placing this sign directly on top (covering) of the heker that they have in their house to remember the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. We do this specifically to make it known that this is not a time to be downtrodden but it is a time to be truly happy.

GUT CHODESH!

5 = 1... only on Purim!

After meeting with Yosef, Yosef gives his brothers all gifts to bring home. He gives all of the brothers Chalifos and Simlaos and then he gives Binyamin, 300 kesef and 5 dresses. These 5 garments/suits are nirmaz to a time when someone from Binyamin’s tribe would be destined to wear 5 Garments: Mordechai, wore the Kings royal garb; Techeiles, Vichor, Viateres zahav gidola, Vitachrich Bootz, and Argaman.

Q: Why didn’t Yosef even think about the possibility that the brothers would get jealous again like they did with him?

A: the Gr”a answers that in reality although Yosef gave Binyamin garments they were collectively worth just as much as the single garments that were given to the rest of the brothers.

Q: If they were all worth the same amount then why not give Binyamin 1 or all of the tribes 5?

A: Because like the earlier Nivua which Rashi discusses when Yosef cries on his “shoulders” because of the Beis Hamikdash, Yosef was hinting to another event that would eventually happen in Jewish history; Mordechai and Esther in Shushan.