Purim 5758

The Malchus of Paras is compared to a bear in Daniel's vision. The Gemorra in Berachos says that the Persians eat and drink like bears, are laden with flesh like bears, and have no rest like bears. They are also represented in Daniel by the metal silver - Kesef. Kesef also means desire. This is the nature of Malchus Paras: Insatiable desire for everything physical. Eating, drinking, etc. as described by the excesses of Ahashveirosh in the Megilla.

Bnei Yisrael were Chayav destruction mipnei shenehenu miseudaso shel oso rasha. Why? The Gemorra mentioned that there was even Kosher wine at the Seuda. What was wrong with their participation?

It seems that this Seuda represented the succumbing to Golus Paras. As long as we could remain out of the feasts of Paras, we could survive. However, when we can join in the Persian decadence of immersion in physical desires, even if Kosher, we lose our right to exist.

The Tikkun for any Achilas Issur, is fasting. It negates the effect of the eating. That is why Esther told Mordechai to proclaim a three day fast in order to bring the Hatzala. Also, we fast Taanis Esther because they fasted on the day of the war. Surely this is not the soundest advice!! (It's 5:00 pm on Taanis Esther and the last thing I feel up to is fighting a war). But, they understood that their Hatzala was to be found in Teshuva for the Cheit that had brought about the Gezeira in the first place.

When they Celebrated the victory over Haman it says, "Layehudim haysa ora vesimcha vesasson viyikar." Why not understand these words simply as a description of the tremendous jubilation in the streets of Shushan?

The Persians also had Ora. The Gemora says that they had a special stone that lit up the night at the feast. Ora to them is an excuse to party at night. We have the real ora of Torah.

The Gemorra says that Bayom hashvii Ketov lev hamelech beyayin was Shabbos. Bnei yisrael eat and drink and begin to speak Divrei Torah and look at what the Persians begin to speak about. This is their Simcha. Our Simcha is Simchas Yom-tov and Shabbos when we elevate our Achila and Shesiya into Avodas Hashem.

Their Sasson is bringing out the queen in her crown and nothing else. Immorality and lewdness. Our Sasson is Milah. True Sasson is found where there is control of passion; as represented by Milah.

Haman's idea of Yekar was to be paraded through the streets on the kings horse wearing the royal clothes. Our idea of Kavod is represented by our Tefillin, our connection to The Ribono shel Olam.

Chazal are telling us that to understand this Posuk simply, means that we were defeated. If after the victory we celebrated with a Persian Bear-like celebration, then we are lost in Golus Paras. It is not possible that these words can be understood literally. Rather we achieved the true Ora which is Torah, the true Simccha which is Simchas Yom-tov, the true Sasson which is Milah and the true Yekar which is Tefillin.
This is why it is crucial that OUR celebrations of Purim not degenerate into bear-like events.

Purim Sameach
Rav Segal

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