This Shabbat marks the beginning of the Hebrew Calendar month of Adar, of which the 14th and 15th are celebrated as Purim. Rambam, in the end of Chapter 2 of the laws of the Megillah and Purim, offers the astounding idea [based on the Midrash] that although all the books of the Neviim [prophets] would eventually be nullified at the time of the ultimate redemption, the book of Esther, and the story of Purim, will never cease to be recalled by the Jews. This mind-boggling revelation needs an explanation.
The commentaries offer a poignant and inspiring perspective based on the following passage in the Talmud [Chullin 139]: “...They also asked Rav Mattana: From where in the Torah can one find an allusion to the events involving Esther? He replied to them that the verse states: “Then My anger shall be kindled against them on that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day: Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? And I will hide [haster astir] My face on that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned to other gods” (Deuteronomy 31:17–18).”
The Talmud is noting that the words used in the Torah for divine concealment–“Hastir Astir”--in fact are designed to allude to how, even in our apparent darkest of moments–as Haman had orchestrated a decree for the death of all Jews—Hashem will, from the shadows, execute a divine plan that ultimately will always result in great spiritual benefit for the Jews. This was manifest during the Purim story, as from the decrees of Haman came the queenship of Esther [note the similarity to the words “Hastir Astir"], the rebuilding of the second temple, and Jewish rule in Israel for 420 years. This hidden miracle, in the face of an apparently looming and obvious catastrophic tragedy for the Jews, is something that even in the future, will not be forgotten; hence, Rambam writes that the Purim story will endure forever.
In our generation, and those immediately prior, we can note similarities to the Purim story; recently, a student asked me the question that has bothered virtually every believing Jew of the past few [and current] generations– “Where was G-d during the Holocaust? October 7th?” As recorded in the earliest sources, the concept of “Tsaddik Ve’Rah Lo—why the truly righteous suffer”--is something that bothered the greatest of all prophets, Moshe Rabbeinu himself, and G-d refused to answer; therefore I did not seek to directly answer the question–nor do I have an adequate answer. However, perhaps we can note the Historical miracles that occurred in the wake of these great tragedies, and find a measure of inspiration. There perhaps can be no greater miracle in the prism of Jewish History than the return of Israel to the Jewish people in 1948; the war of Independence, and the 6 day war, only served to cement the greatness of the miracles that came with our return to our Land.
Additionally, the return of Hostages from the depths of Hamas’ torture tunnels reveals the astounding nature of the collective soul of Am Yisrael–Keith Siegel decided to take on himself the Brachah of “Mezonot” while facing down the Hamas monsters. Omer Shem-Tov, kept alone in solitary confinement for 450 days, took on himself Shabbat observance. Eliah Cohen said that the only thing that kept him going while undergoing the depraved treatment was the prayers of Am Yisrael that he felt in his soul and very being. And of course, the stories of Agam Berger and the female lookouts are well documented. We cannot fathom the Divine plan of the tragedies of Am Yisrael; nor should we try to. But we can notice the incredible and inspiring nature of our heroes, and what kept them going while facing the inheritors of the Amalekite legacy. I have no doubt that coming generations of Am Yisrael will see miracles as we head ever closer to the coming of Moshiach, as the verse states [Shemot 34’ 10’]:
“...[God] said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will work such wonders as have not been wrought on all the earth or in any nation; and all the people who are with you shall see how awesome are Hashem’s deeds which I will perform for you…”
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.
Have a Great Shabbas.