The Secret of Survival in Exile: Receiving the Torah Anew on Purim
Lesson No. 84 | *Motzaei Shabbat 14 Adar II 5757 (Night of Purim D'Prazim) Lesson for the young men of the Chaburah.*
How does the Nation of Israel survive thousands of years of exile among the nations of the world? Through the hidden miracles of Purim, in which Hashem confuses the enemies, we merit the illumination of receiving the Torah anew. A fascinating article on the power of the joy of Purim to transform us into true Torah scholars.
Once, three thousand years ago, there were the Ten Plagues and the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt, and for this we celebrate the Seder night. But the question arises: How is it possible to live in exile for three thousand years until the Third Temple is built? How will we survive among the nations of the world, among murderers who want to annihilate us? After all, it is impossible to give ten plagues in every single generation. A person must ask himself: Okay, the Exodus from Egypt happened once, but what will be for the rest of life? What will be throughout all the thousands of years of exile until the final Geulah (Redemption)?
The Confusion of the Nations of the World
The answer to this lies in the miracles and wonders of Purim. There can be a situation where Haman is the prime minister, and Achashverosh together with him decide to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews. Yet within just three days, Achashverosh himself takes and hangs Haman! And not only does he hang him, he even asks Esther:
"Who is he, and where is he, whose heart has filled him to do so?"
The Megillah is wondrous and difficult to understand from all angles. Achashverosh had no idea what Esther meant. He did not know she was Jewish, and he did not know which nation she was asking to save. When Esther said that they wanted to destroy her people, he was astonished: "Which nation do you mean? I did not say to destroy any nation!".
The gentiles themselves were completely confused. A letter was sent from the king and a letter from Haman, and Haman made a slight change in the content. The king did not exactly intend to kill them, and the gentiles did not know what Haman meant. As it is stated in the Megillah: "ready for that day", and they did not know whether to kill or be killed. Achashverosh, for his part, wrote other letters, and everyone emerged confused from this whole story. Hashem orchestrated the world in such a way that within three days, everything was turned upside down.
A Completely New Giving of the Torah
The Midrash says that Achashverosh himself already wanted to hang Haman and get rid of him. All of this is merited through Mordechai the tzaddik, who draws this immense light down into the world.
Rabbi Natan of Breslov explains that all this happens by meriting a completely new giving of the Torah. When one sees the miracles and wonders—how Hashem with His own hands hangs Haman through Achashverosh—an immense love for the Torah and love for Hashem is awakened. This is the entire revelation of Purim: literally receiving the Torah anew.
The Path to Becoming Torah Scholars
Therefore, everyone must have the intention during the dancing and songs of Purim, and think: How do I now begin to study Torah day and night without interruption?
One can organize the day like this: study for fourteen hours, seclude oneself in prayer (hitbodedut) for an hour, and pray for another three hours. Together this is seventeen hours, and there are still seven hours left to sleep, Baruch Hashem. This is how one can become great and true Torah scholars.
Everything is in the merit of Purim! Through the joy of Purim, the intoxication of Purim, and the dancing of Purim, we will merit to become true Torah scholars, exactly as our Holy Rebbe wants—to know the entire Torah, and may we merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.
Part 2 of 4 — Lesson No. 84