Post date: Mar 10, 2020 4:20:54 AM
[Purim Vorts] Gotta get out of this
“Vayagidu l’Mordechai”
And they told Mordechai
(4:12)
Following the opinion that Esther and Mordechai were married, how was Esther allowed to submit to Achashverosh outside of a forced situation? If we look closely at the Pesukim, we can see a hint that Mordechai possibly divorced Esther before she agreed to approach Achashverosh uninvited.
The Megillah recounts the back-and-forth between Mordechai and Esther when he was trying to convince her to go to Achashverosh and she was trying to get out of going. It says that Hasach went to Esther, then he brought a reply back to Mordechai. At one point it says that “they” relayed Esther’s word to Mordechai. They? How did Hasach suddenly become a they? The Yaaros Devash explains that Mordechai sent two messengers to Esther in order that they be witnesses to her accepting a Get (divorce document) from him. Just as a marriage ceremony requires two witnesses, a divorce requires the presence of two witnesses to effect the Get. In our Pasuk, the witnesses were fulfilling the last step of their mission, which was to return to the charging party to report that they had completed the task to which they had been assigned.
[Inside Purim, p. 131]
[Purim Vorts] Retaining perspective
“Vayarkiveihu bir’chov ha’ir...vayashav Mordechai”
And he led him through the streets of the city...and Mordechai returned
(6:11-12)
After Mordechai was done being led through the streets of Shushan, he returned to his previous state of sitting at the King’s gate, wearing sackcloth, fasting, and adorned with ashes. What a tremendous swing! He had just finished an incredible experience of being honored by the king by having the second-in-command lead him through the streets of the capital, while wearing the king’s fine clothing, and riding one of the king’s personal horses. And now he was back to a most humble of experiences. Such a drastic change in seemingly the snap of the fingers! And the fact that he was able to make that change itself is impressive. He had just been given the royal treatment (in the most literal sense), yet he didn’t abandon who he really was.
He returned to davening to Hashem for Klal Yisroel. He didn’t want to waste one moment, so he was back to his original ways immediately after the parade ended. There was no break.
Many years after the Purim miracle, when Mordechai had much power, he minted coins which depicted him on both sides. On one side was an image of him in the king’s garments, and the other side showed him in his sackcloth. The message is simple. Even when one is blessed with success and prominence, one can never forget his roots and cannot forget the important things in life. For Mordechai, that meant that even though he was being pampered to the nth degree, and even though he was being treated as royalty, he made sure to not forget that the Jews were still in a very precarious position, and that they needed his davening quite badly.
[Glimpses of Light, p. 291]
[Purim Vorts]
“U’mishloach manos ish l’rei’eihu”
And for sending delicacies one to his friend
(9:22)
On this day we send food gifts to our friends. According to the Sfas Emes, it’s not appropriate for a “regular” person to send Mishloach Manos to a Rosh Yeshiva or a distinguished Rav. This is because the Pasuk tells us that the Mitzvah is to send Mishloach Manos to our friends, and to refer to a Rosh Yeshiva or a distinguished Rav as a friend isn’t affording him the proper Kavod (honor) he deserves. However, the Sfas Emes adds that if such a distinguished person were to send Mishloach Manos to a “regular” person, that indicates that he considers this person to be his friend. That being the case, it’s not allowed for the “regular” person to send Mishloach Manos to the distinguished Rav or Rosh Yeshiva.
Nowadays, it seems to me that many such distinguished people want to reduce the gap between one and the other. So the applicability of this Halacha is possibly less prevalent among the majority of people, and would likely only be applicable between most people and the very-most-distinguished of people.
One more thought about Mishloach Manos… The Minhag is that we don’t ask for the container that the Shalach Manos was given in to be returned to us. This isn’t just a practical custom. By giving the container along with the Shalach Manos, we are hinting to how Hashem bestows His gifts upon us on this most special day of Purim. We can ask Hashem for anything. And in situations where Hashem gives us, but we have not even the capacity to receive and accept his gift, Hashem also gives us the vessel, the capacity, to receive His gift. Just as we give our friends gifts along with a container in which to keep the gift until such time that we’re ready to enjoy it, likewise Hashem gives us gifts on Purim, and includes the ability to accept the gift and hold onto it until such time that we’re ready and able to properly enjoy it.
[Torah Wellsprings: Purim 2020, p. 13]