Post date: Feb 18, 2021 5:49:11 AM
“Gam Vashti Hamalka assisah mishtei nashim”
Vashti the Queen also made a feast for the women
(1:9)
The Jews were taken to task for attending the royal parties of Achashveirosh and Vashti. Oddly, the Sforno comments that the Jews’ salvation actually originated from the very party at which they sinned and were being held accountable for.
To explain this, the Sforno brings the Gemara in Yuma (86b) which teaches that when a person repents, his intentional sins are transformed into merits! Based on that, we can understand how Hashem considered their impropriety of attending the parties as a source of merit, and the impetus of their salvation.
It’s a slippery slope to walk because one can never be sure of his ability and commitment to perform true repentance in the future. But after having done so, it seems like a real opportunity to take corrective action.
[The King’s Treasures, p. 23]
Posted 2/18/21