Thursday, February 22, 2007

Daf Yomi - Megillah 15 - ESTHER CLOTHED HERSELF IN THE DIVINE SPIRIT

It is written in the Megillah [5:1]: On the third day, Esther donned [garments of] royalty and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, facing the palace. The Gemora asks: The Megillah should have written that she clothed herself in royal clothing? Rabbi Elozar answers in the name of Rabbi Chanina: The verse is implying that Esther was clothed in the Divine spirit.

Pachad Yitzchak uses this verse to explain a difficulty regarding the story of Purim. The Gemora teaches us that the mitzva of destroying Amalek is only applicable after a king has been appointed over the Jewish people. According to this, the question is asked, how could the Jews in the times of Purim have fulfilled the mitzva of destroying Amalek by killing Haman and his sons, if they did not have a king at that time.

Pachad Yitzchak answers: It is written in the Megillah that Esther donned garments of royalty. This teaches us that she assumed the reign over the Jews, similar to a king, thus allowing the Jewish people to destroy Amalek.

Who gave Esther this right? Pachad Yitzchak does not explain this point.

Rabbi Eliezer Ginzburg, in his sefer Ginzei Hamelech answers: The Shem Mishmuel states that the primary role of a king is to unite his constituents. He explains: “Esther did not literally assume the throne. Rather, she enveloped herself with the intense love for fellow Jews which a monarch must possess if he is to succeed in uniting the people.”

This is the explanation of the Gemora. Esther cloaked herself with an abundance of love towards her fellow Jews and by doing so; she united the entire Jewish people. As a result of this, the Divine spirit rested upon her.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

yasher koach. thus, the order mandated in Sanhedrin 20 was fulfilled, as there was melech, mechiyas Amalek, and then binyan Bais HaMikdash.