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14. Shemot: 17:8-16 TRANSLATION: Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.Moses said to Joshua, "Pick some men for us, and go out and do battle with Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill, with the rod of God in my hand."Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.Then, whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.But Moses' hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur, one on each side, supported his hands; thus his hands remained steady until the sun set.And Joshua overwhelmed the people of Amalek with the sword.Then the LORD said to Moses, "Inscribe this in a document as a reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven!"And Moses built an altar and named it Adonai-nissi.He said, "It means, 'Hand upon the throne of the LORD!' The LORD will be at war with Amalek throughout the ages."

"The Lord will be at war with Amalek throughout the ages"- meaning Hashem will always be with us when we are fighting Amalek, we understand from this that even though Hashem is not mentioned at all in the Megilla, Hashem is there the whole time, watching, protecting, ensuring that Esther prevails, and Achashverosh and Haman make mistakes to create their own downfall. He is Amalek. Who is Amalek? A people who will do anything to kill the Jews Amalek is always willing to even sacrifice themselves if it means they can kill some Jews Here the Jews just left Egypt, plague after plague rained down on Egypt the most powerful nation in the world. The Jews won, the Red Sea was just split for the Jews to cross it, and then when the Egyptians tried chasing after them, it crashed down on them killing every single one of them. What is Amalek thinking? If there is any nation who you should not bother right now it would be the Jews! There is seriously something wrong with Amalek. Haman is Amalek, he is careless, all that matters is killing Mordechai and the Jews no matter the cost even if it means his life. He can't handle waiting until the day for all the Jews he just can't handle it. So he quickly orders the gallows to be built just so he can be in good spirits when he goes to his party with Esther and Achashverosh. But wait he has to ask the king's permission, he has to make sure this is okay, but why? Haman is second in command, he doesn't need the king's permission for something like this, why would he need this Oh, wait, Mordechai has connections with the king Mordechai saved the king's life way back in chapter two In source 14 though, when they tell him to build the gallows and have him killed on it, did you notice how they told him to do this? They say to go in the morning and have him killed. He can't control himself Haman needs to run this by the king and it has to be now, nothing else matters- definitely not worth thinking about time of day, where the king is right now, no investigating as to how to approach the king to ask if he can kill the man who saved his life...

11. Esther 4:15-16 TRANSLATION: Esther said to relay to Mordechai: 16 "Go and gather all the Jews who are in Shushan and fast for my sake, do not eat and do not drink for three days, night and day. My maids and I shall also fast in the same way. Then I shall go to the king, though it is unlawful, and if I perish, I perish."

HAMAN: Who is Haman? He is a megalomaniac- he is obsessed with his own power. But there is a catch to this- he also suffers from bipolar disorder He also is an anti semite Why does Achashverosh love him so much? He only sees Haman in his highs. When he is up, he is manic. He is crazy and active and has momentum and Achashverosh gets to sit back and enjoy his wine and women because Haman will take care of everything That is why he is so quick to make him second in command, that is why he is so quick to give him the Jews, that is why he doesn't know about anything that Haman is really doing because it appears that Haman is just as paranoid as Achashverosh is, but more so for Achashverosh which means he is protecting Achashverosh. SO...... Mordechai doesn't bow down Haman is slighted, and now that we know his mental capacity of course he is going to freak out and be bothered This brings him to the lowest of lows everytime he sees him How do you treat this condition when there isn't any medication around? Take out your anger on the Jews So he gets permission from the king to do this and now we have Esther giving Mordechai instructions Why? She is sensitive and is aware of the king's paranoia and when she sees him coming to Shushan the capital she makes him stop. She gives him instructions The correct read on this is that she is aware that the king is now going to feel threatened and is going to think that Mordechai is making a personal affront to the king and the palace- rebelling the king, and protesting so she sends him clothing- in a sense she slows down his impact on the King's mental instability, while continuing to play and chip away at Haman's She has been passive this entire story doing what she is told by Mordechai and being pushed through the kings beauty contest and queenship Now she speaks up and gives him instructions on how to act. If I perish I will perish? What does this mean? There is a law that one may not approach the king unless invited She is actively now changing and it is not passive Legally speaking she is married to Mordechai. This would constitute Adultery as opposed to rape or whatever we are going to call their relationship beforehand She is willing to give up her share in the world to come for the sake of the entire Jewish people She is acting selfless and is thinking and acting only for others She is risking one of the cardinal sins for the sake of the Jewish people- no prophecy, no nothing, just on knowledge of past events and her knowledge of Achashverosh and Haman If I will perish I will perish...

6. Bavli Megilla 12a TRANSLATION: "...and when the days were filled": Rav and Shmuel: One said that it indicates that Achashverosh was a clever king, and one said that it indicates that Achashverosh was a foolish king. The one who said that Achashverosh was a clever king is of the opinion that he did well by first inviting the outlanders to a feast for he could appease the people of his own city anytime he wished, since they were already nearby. And the one who said that Achashverosh was a foolish king is of the opinion that he should have invited the people of his own city first, so that if these provincials rebelled against him, these residents of Shushan would have stood by and supported him.

. Generally there would be an argument about if someone is smart or very smart, foolish or very foolish, not total opposites, very unusual Smart or foolish? NEITHER Achashverosh did have a character flaw though- he was paranoid. How do we know he is paranoid? because of how he took the kingship He looks at every palace employee with the suspicion that they are thinking exactly what he was before he took over the palace This argument in the gemara is asking us, does he make some really poor decisions or does he make some really smart decisions as a result of his paranoia- because it absolutely can be argued that not allowing anyone to come visit him on pain of death if uninvited is a really smart decision because how can you overthrow the kingdom if you can't access the king? or maybe it comes back to hurt him if he is a little too hasty with his decisions out of worry So Achashverosh advisors come to him and say- you need to do something about Vashti and how she just defied your instruction etc. They are worried that their wives are going to do the same thing because they are also the aristocracy with Vashti, and why wouldn't they feel the same way that she does So they say you need to do something about these women He is manipulated by them and he makes a decision: do you want to keep the kingdom or do you want to keep your queen? Keep this relationship in the back of your head and it will help explain most if not everything that happens in this story.

13. Esther 5:9-14 TRANSLATION: 9 That day Haman left happy and content heart. But when Haman saw Mordechai at the king's gate and [Mordechai] neither rose nor trembled before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordechai. 10 Haman restrained himself and went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Haman told them of his glorious wealth and his many sons, and all about how the king had promoted and raised him above all the king's ministers and servants. 12 Then Haman said: "In addition, along with the king, Queen Esther invited only me to the feast that she prepared. Tomorrow, too, I am invited to her [feast] along with the king. 13 Yet all this is worthless to me whenever I see Mordechai the Jew sitting at the king's gate!" 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have gallows erected fifty cubits high, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordechai hanged on it. Then you will be able to go in good spirits with the king to the feast." Haman was pleased with the idea and erected the gallows.

After being so happy, so high up with power, fame, everything, now he sees that Jew Mordechai and he plummets down to the lowest of lows. How do we know? What does he say to his wife after bragging about his Yet all of this is worthless to me whenever I see Mordechai So what just happened to him? Esther just happened to him Esther just created a situation where he was up so high and had it all and was the best a person could possibly be in Hamans eyes, only in order set him up to sink down so low by seeing Mordechai She created this to mess with his head and now he is going to get careless. Now his mindset is so off that he is going to do anything it takes to get Mordechai. he is convinced that he should kill Mordechai immediately and orders the 50 amot gallows to be built and prepared "really get him this time!" Why couldn't he just be patient and wait until the day all of the Jews were going be killed? Why couldn't he be content with his original plan which originated because of Mordechai in the first place? He is unable to do this. He just totally crashed.

ESTHER 1:1-9 TRANSLATION: And it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus- he is the Ahasuerus who reigned from Hodu to Cush, 127 provinces- in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was in Shushan the capital in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the army of Persia and Media; the nobles and officials of the provinces being present; when he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his splendorous majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days. And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the capital, great and small alike, in the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace. There were white, fine cotton, and turquoise wool, held with cords of fine linen and purple wool, upon silver rods and marble pillars; the couches of gold and silver were on a pavement of variegated marble. The drinks were served in golden vessels-- vessels of diverse form- and royal wine in abundance, in accordance with the king's wealth. And the drinking was according to the law there was no coercion, for so the king had established for every officer of his house to do according to each man's pleasure. Vashti the queen also made a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

First thing that should strike us is the fact that Shushan is referred to as __captiol_____. Why is that a problem? It's not the capital for Jews right, who wrote this story? We are told Mordechai, and that should be a problem because obviously Yerushalayim is the capital, yet he calls Shushan the capitol There is an overarching mentality among the Jews which is the root of the avenue in which the Jews progress that somehow they need to overcome if they want to make it as a people. And they have no idea. The Jews had the opportunity to be in Israel but so many choose not to and you have to ask why? This is the story of Chanukah all over again but much worse. During Chanukah, the Jews weren't allowed, weren't respected, Purim they were Purim they had the choice, and opportunity and despite the Chanukah story only being a few generations earlier, they still decided not to return though Something kept them there. Think about today, we still have the opportunity to live in israel, it's a Mitzvah to live in Israel but we don't- we also think it's better to live outside of israel, or some of us. Why don't our families chose to live in Israel? but in Exile? Achashverosh knew they were supposed to leave after 70 years, they didn't though. The building got paused because there weren't enough Jews there. Who stayed? The practical people, the educated people, the ones who realized that life is good here and attractive they had rights- sound familiar? The second bolded line has been used before to describe the Kohen Gadol. He, Achashverosh walked into the party dressed as the Kohen Gadol. This is the realization that the building has stopped in Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar had looted the Temple and here are the Kohanic vestments and the vessels. We read v'Kelim m'Kelim Shonim in the tune of Eicha because they are the vessels and everything from the destruction of the Beit Hamkidash. He shows this off for everyone Now we have a queen having her own party. They were separate We have to ask why though. It isn't for modesty. Because of the class difference between the aristocratic women and the crude stable boys who took over

2. Bavli Megila 12a TRANSLATION: When he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom. R' Yose bar Chanina said: Scripture teaches that Achashverosh donned priestly garments at this occasion. For it is written here: The honor of his splendorous greatness; and it is written here (Shemot) For glory and for splendor. (Kohen Gadol Vestments.)

Here you have it black and white, this is the proof that he was exploiting the priestly garments and using them in a way that glorified his power and humiliated the Jews and G-d at the same time You have to think about history. The Mishnaic period ended around the year 200 so roughly 450-500 years after this story, this gemara was being spoken, they had to know- not just based off the text of the Megilla, but because that wasn't such a long time for a society based on oral tradition. Finally, Achashveirosh's statement here is that the prophecy was wrong, the Temple and Jerusalem is mine(not to mention the rest of the world) and life couldn't be better.

15. Esther 6:1-14 TRANSLATION: 1That night, the king's sleep was disturbed. He ordered that the Book of Records, the Chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king. 2 It was found written that Mordechai had informed on Bigtan and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains from the threshold guards, who had planned to assassinate King Achashverosh. 3 The king asked, "What splendor and honor has been accorded to Mordechai for this?" "Nothing was done for him," the king's attendants replied. 4 "Who is in the courtyard?" asked the king. And just then Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the king's chambers to tell the king to hang Mordechai on the gallows he had prepared for him. 5 "Haman is standing in the courtyard," the king's attendants answered him. "Let him come in," said the king. 6 Haman entered, and the king said to him, "What should be done for a man whom the king wishes to honor?" Now Haman said to himself, "Who would the king wish to honor more than me?" 7 So Haman said to the king, "For a man whom the king wishes to honor, 8 let them bring a royal garment that the king has worn, and a horse upon which the king has ridden, and upon whose head the royal crown has been placed. 9 And let the garment and the horse be entrusted in the hands of one of the king's noble ministers, and they shall dress the man whom the king wishes to honor and lead him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, 'So is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!'" 10 The king said to Haman, "Hurry! Take the garment and the horse just as you have said, and do just so for Mordechai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Do not leave out a thing from all that you suggested." 11 So Haman took the garment and the horse and dressed Mordechai, and he led him through the city square and proclaimed before him: "So is done for the man whom the King wishes to honor!" 12 Then Mordechai returned to the king's gate while Haman hurried to his house, miserable, his face covered. 13 Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends about all that had happened to him. And his wise men and his wife Zeresh told him, "If this Mordechai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail over him, for you will certainly fall before him." 14 While they were still talking with him, the chamberlains of the king arrived, and they rushed to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

How do we know Achashverosh is paranoid? He can't sleep. Doesn't he drink? He should have no problem falling asleep... Reads through the records, has he done anything for Mordechai to establish that relationship with someone who saved his life? A Paranoid king such as Achashverosh needs people like Mordechai around to ease his paranoia Who is in the gate? Haman, how does Achashverosh feel about Haman right now? He is unsure he is suspicious and feels that everyone is out to get him. He says bring in Haman so he could test him. So he asks him what is to be done with one whom the king wants to honor. HAman's response- smart? or not so smart? It is typical of a narcissist such as Haman, but he might as well have told the King, he wants to kill him. How does he respond? Dress the man up in the king's garb, crown, and put him on the kings horse and lead him around the city center for everyone to see- what would that look like to the citizens and what does that sound like to the paranoid king? He knows that Haman is talking about himself here and is now happy to turn on him. How do we know? He says do this all for Mordechai the Jew. Is there anyone he hates most? Achashverosh knows this What has Achashverosh now turned Haman into? A stableboy, just as Achashverosh began and he is beating Haman down capitalizing on his bipolar condition because he knows that there isn't much that could bother Haman more. At that point Haman is depressed again and now careless. He gets home and is humiliated, is warned by his wife- not something a husband wants to hear and there is no time to think things through before this next wine feast, because it says he was rushed to the palace to meet Esther and the King Haman is not himself, he is depressed and down. The king is even more suspicious and ready to get rid of Haman Esther has one chance to pull this off Haman is weak here because of his mindset Esther uses language to scare Achashverosh even more by telling him there is a man out to kill him, and wants to kill the queen What else do you need to say to someone like Achashverosh? Someone wants to kill the queen? Lose the queen again? Achashverosh should have hada Haman and Esther killed a long time ago just out of suspicion, but he didn't want to lose his queen again, and Haman still seems trustworthy so Achashverosh sets himself up for all this trouble. Now he wants to know "who is it who wants to steal the throne, kill the queen and king?" Now they've all been drinking, What does he do? He walks out to clear his head The first time Achashverosh does something rational and very uncharacter like- he walks out to clear his head and now Esther thinks she has lost. Esther now wonders what is this guy doing, all though this story he has been acting like an idiot making rash quick decisions and making things worse for himself, I just told him Haman wants to kill him and he walks out to clear his head? What just happened? Self preservation, kill Haman what is going on here? Esther is freaking out now

9. Midrash Tehilim Perek 22 TRANSLATION: My G-d, my G-d, why have you forsaken me? My G-d you were there at the sea of reeds, you were there at Mt. Sinai, why do you forsake me? You were there with the arranging of the world, you were there with the making of the Imahot, you helped Sarah in the hand of Pharaoh in one night, afflicted their entire house with plages, great plagues on their house(Bereishit 12). I am here living with this wicked man every year and I call out to you. You haven't listened to me at all, you haven't answered me with miracles... My G-d my G-d why have you forsaken me? Why have you hidden your face? Says Esther before Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Master of the Universe, are there no mitzvot you've given me- Niddah, Challah, and lighting Shabbat Candles, and even though I am in this wicked man's house, I have kept them all...

It is said that this psalm was written from the voice of Esther Esther is crying out to Hashem, asking where he is, pleading and bringing up the past You were with the Jews at the sea of reeds to bring about salvation You were with the Jews at Mt. Sinai- revelation, complete visual of G-d at their side You were with Sarah when she was locked in the palace with PHaraoh only one night, and you saved her! Where are your miracles for me cries Esther? We are taught that the three mentions of G-d's names are to teach us that Esther kept the three mitzvot incumbent upon women- Challah, Niddah, and Shabbat Candles... We are taught that she immersed in Mikveh before every rape- so despite her physical body being violated, her soul remained pure, this purity will come up later. The is one of the big explanations or examples of crying out to G-d when G-d seems to be ignoring the Jews and their suffering There is no mention of G-ds name in the Megillah but there are hints that we will see a little later This is what makes this story so sad. This is a psalm also written for the Jewish people as a whole and for throughout history when we are beaten down, killed, persecuted, and taken advantage of. It is almost impossible to recognize G-d in these situations and this is supposed to remind us that they all were indeed answered- meaning G-d is always there. They all were delivered with "minimal" harm or at least compared to what was the potential But the times we cry out for help with the most intensity are the times when we feel neglected, and the times we don't even consider the importance of a G-d, are the times when we feel that we have it all. Esther is at her wits end here and has nothing but crying to Hashem to get her through this. There is an interesting Phenomenon that occurs within a person's psyche. One always has some type of tension between reality and belief. It seems that we all want some proof of what is real- is it that there is a G-d or something Divine, or is it all a bunch of fluff to get us to do the right thing or live an ethically righteous life? The question often comes up during last week and this week's parsha- how can explain G-d hardening G-ds heart? How is that fair or free will? READING

21.

Moshe is going to live for 120 years Man is flesh and blood who lives, Moses lived 120 years but not a god- he is human. A person Haman comes from "hamin ha etz"- this is the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he reminds us of the Nachash in Gan eden Mordechai- Mar dechiya- He is Mar Dror says Rashi, which is b'samim- the, Mar is Amalek in Gematria, and dror is freedom, freedom from Amalek. Esther- Estir means hidden, she is hidden, and this whole Megilla is to reveal what is hidden, what is hidden, God? Salvation, Esther is hidden in the palace, etc. Haman is connected to the sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil By the way eating, and sinning with eating is somewhat of a theme in the Megilla- the Jews never should have participated in the Seudah of Achashverosh, why? Because of the Kelim, they were disrespecting and using the kelim at these parties and the Jews partook of the party- they never should have participated and the sin of eating from the tree of good and evil trickles into this story all the way Where else drinking- drinking has seemed to get people into trouble in this story or at the very least sets a poor example as to a healthy way of enjoying alcohol Something to add- the Pinei Yisuschar teaches that at the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that the following senses were corrupted Sight- Eve sees the how beautiful the tree/fruit is- to sin Taste- they ate from the tree- to sin Touch- they touched the tree and the fruit- to sin Hearing- they listened to the snake and bought it- to sin Which one's missing? Smell, what does smell have to do with anything? How do we heal sin? Teshuva, how else do we heal sin? Yom Kippur- what is the central focus of the Yom Kippur Avodah? The incense offering, the ketoret/b'samim offered by the Kohen Gadol- Mordechai represents the incense. How does this connect to Purim though? The sin of the golden calf is pretty similar to the sinning at the seuda Achashverosh. What happened at the sin of the golden calf? The big three- murder (Hur) sexual sins (partying) and obviously idolatry. What is going to atone for this the avoda of the Kohen Gadol(he sacrifices an ox for his family and an ox for Israel, but the incense is the most intense part of the service and the most dangerous. Achashverosh? Mordechai therefore represents the ketoret is the anecdote to the sin of participating in the seudah. Now, who, really, is Mordechai? see the repeat of the Gemara Megilla 12b below:

23. Kereitot 6b TRANSLATION: Rav Chana bar Vizna said in the name of R' Shimon Chasida: Any fast that does not include Jewish sinners is not a fast. For galbanum has a repugnant odor, and yet Scripture counted it among the ketoret spices. Abaye says: It can be derived from here: "He who built his upper strata in the heavens and founded his group upon the earth."

Only when the Jewish people are HIS GROUP- assembled as one unit sinners and all Then they are founded on the earth- the basis of their requests are potentially accepted. When we turn to god we need sinners to pray as well- not just Tzadikim This repugnant odor was critical to making the ketoret. How do you make perfume? You take sin and cover it up with this good smell You take something that smells bad and you cover it up with something that smells good How does teshuva work? you take something bad and cover it up with something that is good, and bring it into the Kadosh HaKedoshim and somehow that works. TO END: Tikunei Zohar (next source) Some of us may have heard this some may have not, that somehow Purim and Yom HaKippurim are connected. Where does this come from?

18. Midrash on Esther (Torah Shlema Esther) TRANSLATION: R' Berechiya in the name of R' Chiyyah: Esther was extremely strong and She grabbed Haman and dragged him down on top of her. SHe said so we'll both die together now and at least save the people.

Strong physically, mentally, spiritually For all these years she was passive. She was passive with Achashverosh- and you can call that rape, you can call it whatever you want, but it definitely wasn't consented, but she didn't fight it either. She now had to be friendly and active to get Achashverosh but it didn't work Now she doesn't care and pulls Haman on top of her hoping they'll get caught and kill them both She realizes that Achashverosh doesn't even realize he should be killing Haman here and goes to plan B and further sacrifices herself to get Haman out of the picture. Fortunately Achashverosh comes in and sees a conquest taking place and it looks like Haman is trying to take over the kingdom Esther is lucky that she survives this but she was ready to put herself in a position to use Achashverosh's and Haman's mental instability against them and save the Jews sacrificing herself.

24. Tikunei Zohar 57b TRANSLATION: And this is Yom Kippur. four white clothing, etc.

These are the four pieces of white clothing These are the gold pieces of gold clothing When he puts on these articles of clothing he effects kappara And this verse is describing him: (V'tilbash...") and Esther put on the royal clothing And when he goes inside, to the inner sanctum the holy of holies, And he goes to see the King on the day and if he finds grace or favor in the King's eyes, he will gain atonement and remembrance of G-d's covenant- to Abraham- for all of the people. This is purim, When the kohen Gadol goes into the holy of holies- and if he makes one mistake he can die... just like Esther makes one mistake she can be killed When the Kohen Gadol goes in on Yom Kippur, he wears special clothing... just like Esther when she dresses up and puts on makeup to find favor in the "king's" eyes Back to source 11, If I perish I shall perish... Esther gave up her share in the world to come by giving in to Achashverosh and acting on their relationship thus making it full on Adultry. Who else did something like this? Didn't Aaron make the golden calf? Isn't Idolatry also one of the big three? He did this on behalf of the Jewish people. He did this for the sake of Hashem. He didn't want to do this but knew it was necessary for the Jewish people Wait, who else did this? Pinchas, Pinchas murdered Zimri and became Kohen Gadol too. He did this for the Jewish people, he did this for the sake of Hashem Now we have Aaron making a Golden Calf and becoming Kohen Gadol, Pinchas murdering and becoming next in line for Kohen Gadol, and finally we have a character who submits to Adultery for the same exact reasons... What are we saying here? Who is the role model for the Kohen Gadol? ESTHER! and it suggests that when Esther went in to see the king, and had to do what she had to do, but her Neshama wasn't there. Her Neshama was like that of the Kohen Gadol. Selfless. Completely to save the entirety of the JEwish people just like the Kohen Gadol. This is the level that the Kohen Gadol is at or is trying to be at, just like when Esther puts on her royal clothing. This statement of the Zohar- who is Esther? She is the Kohen Gadol, what does Esther do? She brings atonement for the entire Jewish people who partook of the Seuda Achashverosh, She is fixing that which is equivalent to the Golden Calf, and is putting her life at risk for them and she wins. She succeeds, G-d listens, G-d hears and G-d saves the Jews again. These hints were there the entire time. The holy vessels the beit Hamikdash was the entire backdrop of this entire story The whole story is talking about the Temple, Jews sinning, Divine punishment and what seems to be an absence of G-d. Remember- Esther is Mordechai's cousin. She is also from Yehudah and Binyamin She also represents the Ketoret- what is her real name? Hadassah- fragrant smell- beautiful smell. She is the ketoret, she is the one who goes about and enters the inner sanctum and gains favor from the king. Look back to Ch. 5 when she puts on her royal garb and perfume etc.- does what does it call the king? JUST KING- not king Achashverosh, she was going into plead with Hashem, not absent, here the whole time ready to help!

22. Megillah 12b TRANSLATION: The verse calls him "Yehudi" The verse calls him "Yimini!" The verse calls him Yehudi thus we see that he came from the tribe of Judah. Yet, it calls him "Benjaminite" at the end of that very verse- thus, we see that he came from the tribe of Benjamin! Which was his actual tribe? Rav Nachman said: Mordechai wsz crowned with his names, i.e. the honorable names of both his father's and mother's tribes, as the Gemara now explains: Rabbah bar bar Chanah said in the name of R' Yehoshua ben Levi: Mordechai's father was from the tribe of Benjamin and his mother was from the tribe of Judah. And the Rabbis said : The families of Judah and Benjamin would vie with one another for the credit of Mordecai's birth. The family, i.e. tribe of Judah, would say, "I caused that Mordechai be born, for King David refrained and did not kill shimi ben Gera," who was an ancestor of Mordechai. And the family of Benjamin said, "He is in fact descended from me."

This doesn't tell us much- basically only fights over his ancestry. They don't know what to do with this Yehudi means a Jewish guy. not Yehudah Think deeper What is represented by the crossing of Yehudah and Benjamin? The Beit haMikdash Beit Hamikdash is in the portion of Yehudah and the Kadosh Kedoshim is in the portion of Binyamin. One person who represents the sense that was not corrupted, who did not bow down to Haman (Esav- remember he wasn't born yet when all of Yaakov's sons and wives bowed down to Esav who is Haman's ancestry) Therefore he will never bow down, Mordechai won't budge He represents the incense, the kapara, the avodah on Yom kippur, he represents the whole backdrop of the story was the Beit Hamikdash and the clothing of the Kohen Gadol and was this whole corruption of not having the Beih Hamkidash Now, Ketoret?- Gemara asks how it works, look at the next source:

20. Chullin 139b TRANSLATION: Where in the Torah, (before he was born) is Moses? From the verse, "inasmuch (beshagam) as he is mere flesh" (Bereishit 6:3). Where in the Torah is Haman? From the verse, "have you eaten of (hamin)the tree from which I commanded you not to eat"(Bereishit 3:11)? Where in the Torah is Esther? From the verse, "And I will surely conceal (astir) my countenance from them"(Devarim 31:18). Where in the Torah is Mordechai? From the verse, "pure myrrh (mor deror) and the Targum Onkelos reners these words as meira dachya"(Shemot 30:23).

This gemara is impossible to understand what exactly the common denominator is There is a halacha that one is forbidden to say a name that is Avodah Zara, but you are allowed to say the ones mentioned in Tanach All four of these names are connected to Avoda Zara Moses- Who names Moses? Batya- Daughter of a G-d, Moses was considered a god in Egypt and rising to power, second in command to the king. Paro was the god of the nile, and she claims that the Nile gsve birth to Moshe by naming him this, thus making him a god. Haman- making people bow down to him, he himself was an idol and he absolutely considered himself this as a megalomaniac Mordechai- connected to Marduk- name of a god in Perisa- actually this is hilarious. Marduk was also the name of a god that supposedly had eyes going all around his head and would represent smart speech and planned speech. Esther- Suspiciously close to something called Ishtar- Ishtar is like Venus- sex goddess- the Gemara knows this. Of course this is connected to Esther, how does Esther save the Jews? She wins over the King's favor, unfortunately we know how.

8. Tehillim 22 TRANSLATION: For the conductor, on the deer of the morning, a song of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [You are] far from my salvation [and] from the words of my moaning.My God, I call out by day and You do not reply, and at night I do not keep silent. But You are holy; You await the praises of Israel.

This is Esther crying out to Hashem. Rashi below describes what she is saying and why she feels forsaken in the next source

7. Esther 2:5-17 TRANSLATION: 5 There was a Jewish man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordechai, son of Yair, son of Shim'iy, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the exiles that had been exiled along with Jechoniah, King of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had sent into exile. 7 He had raised his cousin Hadassah, also called Esther, for she had neither father nor mother. The girl was shapely and beautiful, and when her father and mother died, Mordechai adopted her as his daughter. 8 Now when the king's order and edict became known, and many girls were gathered to Shushan the capital under the charge of Heigai, Esther was also taken to the palace under the charge of Heigai, custodian of the women. 9 The girl found favor in his eyes and won his kindness, so that he hurried to provide her with her cosmetics and meals, and the seven maids that were to be given her from the palace. He also transferred her and her maids to the best quarters in the harem. 10 [All the while] Esther did not divulge her race or ancestry, for Mordechai had instructed her not to tell. 11 Every day Mordechai would stroll in front of the harem courtyard to find out how Esther was faring and what would be done with her. 12 Now when each girl's turn came to go to King Achashverosh, after undergoing the prescribed twelve-month care for women (for only then would their period of beauty-care be completed: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and women's cosmetics, 13 with which the girl would appear before the king), she would be provided with whatever she requested to accompany her from the harem to the palace. 14 In the evening she would go [to the king], and in the morning she would return to the second harem, under the charge of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, custodian of the concubines. She would not go to the king again, unless the king desired her, whereupon she would be summoned by name. 15 And when the time came for Esther, daughter of Avichayil uncle of Mordechai, who had taken her as a daughter, to go to the king, she did not ask for anything other than that which Heigai, the king's chamberlain, custodian of the women, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 Esther was taken to King Achashverosh, to his palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than all the women and she won his favor and kindness more than all the virgins; he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in Vashti's stead.

What is Achashverosh solution to Vashti? Get rid of her and replace her. He sets up what we are taught is a beauty contest. It is not a beauty contest. He sends out his officials and they round up all the beautiful young women in Shushan and they are brought to the palace or a place where they are prepared for this chance to become queen As far as we know, all the women except for one, wanted to be chosen for this opportunity, yes maybe to become queen, but definitely for another reason. We can use our imaginations and know exactly how these women spent their chance to become queen They were given whatever they wanted as far as clothing, makeup, perfumes etc. to prepare for this. But when their turn was over, they didn't get sent home, they joined the king's harem for the rest of their lives. This is a wonderful thing for them. If you know anything about life in Persia 2000 years ago, life wasn't easy. If you were lucky you would marry a man who could take care and support you but it was a very hard life as a women back then. If you were chosen though to be in the is competition and you didn't win, you lived for the rest of your life in the king's harem being taken care of, meals all provided, clothing etc.- everything, so they all wanted to be picked and a part of this incredible opportunity- win win situation here. Esther didn't want it though. And this is precisely the reason she won. Psychologically, we know, that people want what they can't have, especially greedy kings Esther didn't want any of the makeup or beautiful queenlike clothing. She didn't want anything to do with it. Achashverosh has never been said no to before, except for from Vashti Esther reminds him of Vashti and higher class and he wants her and she wins- she plays hard to get. The reason that Esther wins is because she reminds him of Vashti and he is attracted to that type of attitude, aristocracy, not cheap like the other women. He says to himself, she'll make a great wife, all these others who are throwing themselves at Achashverosh would be great in my harem.

12. Esther 5:1 TRANSLATION: On the third day, Esther put on royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, facing the king's palace, while the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room facing the entrance of the palace

What is Esther's plan now? She has two men who are her problem and what she needs to do is work one against the other. She is going to set them up to turn on each other by reading into the fatal flaws in each of them. Now she is going to walk into the Palace. All of a sudden she isn't so passive She puts on royal garb, a little perfume and why? So he will listen to her and favor her and not kill her She has always been so distant to him and Vashti like, but now she has changed and is going after him. Finally he thinks he has won her over. He is desperate- "up to half the kingdom I'll give you..." But she has won, she's gotten his attention. What does she do in this scene? She invites him over for a wine feast and he is filled with excitement that she has finally come around and wants to be with him But then she drops the hammer. She also invites Haman This is devastating now to Achashverosh=- his mind begins to spin and he becomes suspicious he thinks there is a plot but he doesn't know whose who and what's what. He is paranoid now, who do I kill, who am I suspicious of? Haman or Esther Haman reads this invitation very poorly Remember, Haman loves power- so he thinks to himself, of course I'm invited, why wouldn't I be? But he makes a huge mistake by not considering what his friend might be thinking. Now we're at the party and what is everyone thinking? Achashverish: Paranoid- what is going on, what is Haman up to, what is my wife up to, are they planning something together? Are they going to overthrow me? Haman: I am so popular, I am at a party with the king and queen, I am so powerful and I get to kill the Jews, does life get any better? Esther: I have one bullet, I have to use it right to get them both... At the end of the feast, she invites them both to a second wine feast. And now when it ends we read about how Haman leaves... GO ON TO SOURCE 13

5 Bavli Megilla 12b TRANSLATION: "So the king became greatly incensed by her refusal" Why did his anger burn within him so much? Rava said: Because Vashti sent him a message: You stable boy of my father, [Belshazar]! My father drank wine the equivalent of what a thousand people drink, and did not get drunk, whereas that man, i.e. Achashverosh, became foolish with wine. Upon hearing this insult, immediately, "his anger burned within him."

Who is Achashverosh? Why did he get so upset? what set him off? She sent him a message: "stable boy of my father" She insults him He is drinking and acting like a fool She made a comparison between her father and Achashverosh, aristocracy and dirt Now let's write a new beginning to the story. An introduction- were going to make this up, here is the first scene of the story How did Achashverosh become king Many years ago there was a boy working in the stable of the king. What does he do in the stable? He cleans, he breathes in dusty moldy smelly air. It is a great job for the king, but among the lowliest jobs of the palace and humiliating and filthy Then he looks out the window and he sees a beautiful picture. He sees the palace. He stares at it and he then sees a door opening to a balcony and a beautiful girl comes out and begins to comb her hair Then he says to himself "someday that'll will be mine" and of course the reader doesn't know if he is referring to the palace, the princess, or both. At that moment Achashverosh decided he was going to marry her someday. But there is a huge difference between the two, and this gemara just taught it to us. She is aristocracy, he is a servant, she is royalty, he is dirty, she is sophisticated, proper, wealthy, and too good for most people, he is poor, stupid, greedy, and ignorant What drove him crazy by her refusal? Her message indicated that she knew even if he dressed up in royal garments, even if he made a lavish royal party and everyone loved him, he was still just a stable boy She never was going to give in or want to be with him This infuriated him and drove him absolutely crazy- because he couldn't get what he wanted What happened in the next scene of the text in our beginning source? He spoke to his wise men who would advise him. Who were these wise men? They were part of our introduction to the story, they were his friends and his stablemates They plot to take over the palace How was this done? Kill all the men, take all the women and money, and establish new guards, officials. And who were these wise men "married" to? They women who were married to the men they all killed when they took over the palace- meaning the sophisticated aristocracy just like Vashti. Now. when they make the decree, because they are frightened that all the women will never again listen to their husbands, that they need an actual law for this makes more sense- the women weren't listening to them because the men were pigs, they were drunk stable boys- pirates. Imagine Achashverosh and Vashti sitting down to dinner. Sitting at a long table, Vashti on one end and Achashverosh on the other. She is sitting, barely an appetite, Achashverosh is sitting with a leg of lamb too big for his plate, grease dripping down his arm and he asks for the salt. She can't even dare to look, and under her breath she says look at this a pig eating a pig. And then the next scene- so what was she for him? More a trophy wife, a trophy wife who gives him Royal stature. Vashti- her name connotes drinking. She has her own party and they are drinking together. They are drinking for an entirely different reason than the men though- the men are happy and celebrating, the women are drinking out of sorrow- disgusted by their husbands. People with no respect to their husbands which is why the advisors get so worked up and go to Achashverosh. GO TO SOURCE 6

3. Esther 1:10-22TRANSLATION: On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he told Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who attended King Ahasuerus, to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show off to the people and to the officials her beauty, for she was beautiful of appearance. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command conveyed by the hand of the chamberlains; the king therefore became very enraged and his wrath burned in him. Then the king spoke to the wise men, those who knew the times (for such was the king's procedure [to turn]to all who knew law and judgment), those closest to hi- Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshis, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven officers of Persia and Media, who had access to the king, who sat first in the kingdom: By the law, what should be done to Queen Vashti for not having obeyed the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the hand of the chamberlains?" Memucan declared before the king and the officials, "Not only against the king has Vashti the queen done wrong, but against all the officials and all the people in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen's deed will go forth to all women, making their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when they will say, 'king Ahasuerus said to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come!' And this day the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will speak of it to all the king's officials, and there will be much contempt and rage. If it pleases the king, let there go forth a royal edict from him, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, that it not be revoked that Vashti never again appear before King Ahasuerus; and let the king confer her royal estate4 upon another who is better than she. Then the king's decree which he will proclaim shall be heard throughout his kingdom- great though it be- and all the wives will show respect to their husbands, great and small alike." This proposal was favorable in the eyes of the king and the officials, and the king did according to the word of Memucan; and he sent letters into all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script, and to each people in its own language, [to the effect that] every man should rule in his own home, and speak the language of his own people.

Who is he showing her off to? The rich, diplomats, ministers, aristocracy, the people living on capitol hill There is a difference between the people living in the kingdom and the people living in Shushan- and this second party is where this event occurred. Why show off to the people of power? Why is this necessary? He is king, this is what kings do, especially foolish kings? We are going to go back to this idea Turn to your partner and: how do we understand his anger and the actions he took? If she were not punished then all the other women in the palace who were of her class would have thought it was ok to disobey their husbands who were stable boys as well

16. Esther 7:8 TRANSLATION: And the king returned from the palace garden to the wine-feast chamber, and Haman had fallen upon the bed upon which Esther was reclining. The king said, "Does he even intend to have his way with the queen while I am in the palace!" As soon as these words left the king's mouth the face of Haman was covered.

לִכְבּוֹשׁ אֶת הַמַּלְכָּה Have his way with actually means conquest/conquer, not adultry Achashverosh sees what is going on here and what is actually at stake Conquer et ha Malca