Post date: Mar 02, 2018 3:2:46 AM
Hi,
We have experienced another Purim, and hopefully we have grown from it. Perhaps we learned more about ourselves individually, or perhaps we learned how we fit into the larger Klal Yisroel. Maybe we have a bigger sense of Hakaras Hatov (recognizing the good) towards Hakadosh Baruch Hu for all that he did and continues to do for us. The holiday of Purim will continue in perpetuity, as it says in the Megilah, "And these days should be remembered and celebrated by every generation...and these days of Purim should never cease among the Jews" (9:28). So next year, wherever we find ourselves, hopefully our Purim experience will be even greater than it was this year. Hopefully this year's was tremendous, but next year will be even better.
Wishing everyone a Freilechen Shushan Purim, followed closely by a good Shabbos,
Josh
[Shushan Purim Vorts] Merciful gift
“Asher shalach yado ba’yehudim”
Because he plotted against the Jews
(8:7)
About two months after Haman was executed, Achashveirosh said to Mordechai and Esther, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he plotted against the Jews.” The Rokeach tells us that the Sofei Teivos of the words “asheR shalaCH yadO ba’yehudiM” (Reish, Ches, Vav, Mem) spell the word “Rachum” (mercy). This indicates that Hashem had mercy on Klal Yisroel and made sure that this happened for their benefit.
[Inside Purim, p. 285]
[Shushan Purim Vorts] There’s a set time, but nonetheless…
“Kiymu v’kiblu haYehudim aleihem v’al zar’am v’al kol hanilvim aleihem v’lo ya’avor l’hiyos osim es shinei hayamim ha’eileh kich’savam v’chiz’manam b’chol shanah v’shanah”
The Jews confirmed and accepted upon themselves and upon their offspring and upon all who may join them, never to be retracted, to observe these two days in the way prescribed and at its proper time each and every year.
(9:27)
The general rule is that women are typically exempt from positive mitzvos that are time bound. The requirement to hear the Megilah definitely has a set time when it must be fulfilled. However, women are, in fact, required to hear the Megilah (twice!) on Purim—once at night, and once during the day. Why is this the case?
The Mishnah Berurah (689:1:1) tells us that since the miracle of Purim happened to women as well, they are also required to hear the reading of the Megilah. The Rokeach points out that there is an allusion to this Halacha in our Pasuk. You’ll notice that the Roshei Teivos of the words “Es Shinei Hayamom” (these two days) are the letters Alef, Shin, Heh, which spell the word Isha (woman). The hint in this Pasuk indicates that when these two days of Purim were accepted by the Jews as a holiday in perpetuity, the women also accepted upon themselves all of the mitzvos of the day. So, even though the mitzvos of Megilah—Matanos l’Evyonim, Shalach Manos, and Seudas Purim—are all time bound positive mitzvos, this is one of the exceptions to the rule, and women are fully obligated.
[Inside Purim, p. 267]