Post date: Feb 24, 2012 3:36:56 AM
והנחה למדינות עשה
“Vahanuchuh lamidinos usuh”
(2:18)
In honor of his new queen, Achashveirosh abolished taxation for all nations—a benefit withheld from the Jews because of Achashveirosh’s intense hatred for them.
Since Achashveirosh was still pulling in money from the Jews, Haman felt he needed to include a financial incentive to Achashveirosh when he made his proposal to wipe them out.
Ironically, when Mordechai and Esther made their proposal to Achashveirosh that the Jews should be allowed to protect themselves and wipe out Amalek, no financial consideration was needed because the other nations weren’t paying any taxes at the time!
[Al Hanissim]
להיות כל איש שורר בביתו
L’hiyos kol ish soreir biveiso
(1:22)
Part of the new royal edict was that every man should rule in his own house. The type of recalcitrance exhibited by Vashti was now officially outlawed.
When Reb Shmuel Abba of Zichlin used to read the Megilah, he would pronounce the word “Soreir” (rule) as “Shoreir” (look). His intention in doing so was to remind those present that every man should look closely and constantly at the tone of what goes on in his home.
[A Treasury of Chassidic Tales]