Post date: Feb 08, 2012 5:2:48 AM
Welcome to my second year of sending out Purim Vorts.
Over the next month I plan on sending out approximately one Vort each day as we make our way towards Purim. If you have feedback about the Vorts, the format of the emails or the website, I would love to hear from you.
Spread the word! If you know of others who might appreciate these Vorts, forward them on!
Most importantly, enjoy the Vorts in the spirit they were sent—intended to enlighten and enhance your Purim.
Have a Freilechen Purim!
הוא אחשורוש
“Hu Achashveirosh”
(1:1)
The opening Pasuk of the Megilah sets the scene, and gives us a short profile of one of the main figures in the story. But, at face value, the words “Hu Achashveirosh” seem to add nothing of substance to the rest of the description.
The Gemara (Megilah 11a) explains that this phrase is telling us that from the beginning of the story until the end of the story, “Hu Achashveirosh,” he was always the same person with the same evil agenda. From the time that he happily handed the Jews over to Haman (3:11) until he allowed Mordechai to send a follow-up letter to the Jews of the kingdom (8:8) he was still the same rotten person. His acquiescence at the end shouldn’t be misconstrued as an improvement in his character. Rather, the Megilah wants us to understand that our salvation came about only because of Hashem’s intervention.
Midrash has another interpretation of this seemingly superfluous phrase. Originally, Achashveirosh’s empire consisted of 240 countries. We can easily understand that if one had control over so many countries and had not experienced any kind of rebellion, it would be easy for him have little sympathy, and any group that might exhibit any amount of insurrection would likely be treated quite harshly. Having so many other countries under his control, why would he think twice about his reaction in such a situation? Not only that, but such a response would surely quell any similar thoughts that might be brewing elsewhere in the empire. However, having lost close to half of his empire (from 240 countries down to 127), it would seem more logical that he would have been hesitant to lose yet another nation which would further reduce his stature as a ruler. Despite all of this, he handed over the fate of the Jews to Haman with no persuasion needed, and even refused Haman’s offer of 750 tons of silver! The decision was an easy one for such an evil person.
“Hu Achashveirosh.” He was the same evil person from the time he ruled over 240 countries until he was left with only 127 countries.
[Chidushim Yekarim and Naharei Afarsimon by way of Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]