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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
The world may be fascinated with the Royals from across the ocean, but we, the Jewish nation, have our own Royals to learn from and emulate.
The news media is following Kate Middleton’s wardrobe, but we look up to Queen Esther who clothed herself splendidly. “Vatilbash Esther malchus, Esther donned royalty.” (Megillas Esther 5:1)
While Megillas Esther is translated as the Scroll of Esther, it can also be understood as l’galos hester, to reveal the hidden, alluding to the fact that HaShem’s name doesn’t appear in the Megillah.
The miracle of Purim was hidden. The Megillah is not only a book of hidden miracles, but also a book of hidden messages within its verses.
“Vatilokach Esther, Esther was taken” to the palace of Achashverosh. (ibid 2:16) The Megillah emphasizes that Esther did not choose to go to the palace, but that she was “taken”. Imagine Esther, a young orphaned girl, alone in the palace of an enemy of the Jewish people. There, during those dark, difficult days, Esther was not only a survivor, but a fighter, speaking up for the existence of her people.
What was Esther’s secret, from where did she get her power? While she clothed herself royally, it wasn’t the silk, satin or velvet that gave Esther strength, but the spiritual armor she enveloped herself with.
In Hebrew, the last three letters of Esther’s name are samach, suf, reish, spelling the word sayser, meaning “hidden”. “Esther had not revealed her background or her people.” (ibid 2:10) Mordechai had instructed Esther to keep her true identity under wraps, hidden from Achashverosh. He understood that her becoming queen was no coincidence, but part of HaShem’s plan. Mordechai reasoned that if she revealed her background too soon, she might lose the opportunity for which she was planted in the palace. His advice to Esther was to let the story play out, waiting to reveal herself at the proper time.
Esther’s name begins with an aleph. Aleph for Echad, the One and Only HaShem. Aleph for emunah, strong belief and faith. Aleph, for achdus, the unity amongst the Jewish people that Esther brought about. Aleph for avos, the z’chus avos, the merit of her ancestors that were with her.
Esther’s royal clothes were a beautiful tapestry of turning to the Echod, the One Above with tefillah. It was interwoven with strong emunah, faith, belief and trust in HaShem. Esther turned to Mordechai instructing him “Leich k’nos es kol haYehudim, Go and gather all the Jews” before approaching the king. (ibid 4:16) Threads of achdus, tying it all together. And finally, Esther drew upon her avos, the strength of her father, as Esther was bas Avichayil, Avi, my father, chayil my strength.
Was Esther afraid? Of course she was. But she was able to rise above her fears and worries by clothing herself royally. By adorning herself with the “aleph”, as she presented her plea before Achashverosh. She truly felt that HaShem was walking with her. Her royal, spiritual garments empowered her to become a true malkah, a queen of Am Yisroel, the heroine of her people.
HaShem brought about hatzalah, salvation to the Jewish people through a young orphaned girl. A message for all future generations. A message for us all – one should ever feel alone and abandoned, like an orphan, because HaShem is always with us. (Midrash Esther Rabbah 6:7).
Esther requested that her story be recorded for future generations, enabling all of us to learn from her experiences. Each of us has a life mission. Not necessarily in a palace, but in our homes, our schools, our work environment, our communities. It’s up to us to fulfill our task and know that HaShem assigns each person a life mission that he or she is capable of fulfilling.
The Jewish people in Persia merited to experience a miracle. A ve’nehapach, a total turn-around from a day that was marked for pain and tragedy to a day of joy and celebration. When the miracle came, it came quickly, as we see in the words of the Megillah: “Then the king commanded, tell Haman to hurry and fulfill Esther’s wish.” (Megillas Esther 5:5) The king said further to Haman, “Hurry, get the clothes and the horse as you have spoken, and do so to Mordechai the Jew.” (ibid 6:10)
My mother a”h shared a haunting Holocaust memory in her book, Life Is a Test:
“My brothers and I agreed that the one word that stands out most in our minds from our Holocaust experiences was “Schnell.” The Nazis were constantly yelling, “Schnell! Schnell! — Quickly! Quickly!”
We had to leave our homes quickly. We had to climb into the cattle cars quickly. We had to march from the railroad station to Bergen-Belsen quickly. We had to ready ourselves for roll call every morning quickly. And they stuffed and shoved millions of our people into the gas chambers — quickly.
Oy Tatte Zeese, if it was so urgent for those evil ones to quickly bring about our demise, then surely, Almighty G-d, our Tatte Zeese, it should be even more urgent for You to bring us, Schnell! Schnell! — Quickly! Quickly! — our redemption speedily in our own day.
We, Your children, are very tired — two thousand years is a very long time.”
Purim is truly an auspicious day to daven for the ultimate redemption. There is a well-known mandate that on Purim, “kol haposhet yad nosnim lo, anyone who stretches out their hand is given!” Whomever requests tzedakah is given – no questions asked. It’s time for us to utilize the eis ratzon of Purim, to open “our” hands and beseech HaShem for our needs, for refuos, healing, for yeshuos, salvation, for an end to the terrible tragedies that are befalling our people in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. It’s time to ask for the geulah b’korov, for the redemption to come quickly.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a Simchas Purim!
Chaya Sora
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
