With this thought in mind, permit me to share with you a very interesting and thought provoking idea that our Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik zt"l reflected upon regarding the Holiday of Purim.
Rabbi Soloveitchik outlined how the Megillah of Purim was not intended to be part of the Biblical Canon. Initially, the story of Purim was transcribed by Mordechai, and shared far and wide with the Jewish community as an "Igeres", a letter.
Esther wrote a letter as well, which was, basically, a repetition of Mordechai's initial request, seeking to establish the 14th and 15th of Adar as Purim for all times.
"What did she ask for?" said Rabbi Soloveitchik, "Whatever she wanted had been fulfilled. Her request for the establishment of the holiday was granted." Esther's request, he explained, was that this "letter" be elevated to the level of כתבי הקודש.
Once that happened, the message of מגילת אסתר -now one of the books of the Torah - became more powerful and eternal.
"An Igeres is a story - a true story," said Rabbi Soloveitchik. "I don't want to mitigate the importance of an Igeres. But once the recounted Purim story became an actual Book of the Bible, there's a new dimension to the Megillah. The Megillah is, now, part of the Torah."
Rabbi Soloveitchik shared his philosophy that "any book of the Torah must be a source of Torah knowledge, a source of halachot, of rules, of conduct, a source of morality, a source on which one may draw from time to time, when he's in doubt and/or in confusion. An Igeres is an historical document not a source of knowledge." Biblical stories stressed Rabbi Soloveitchik, are not merely stories. There are laws and directions in life to be learned from these narrative moments in Torah - its relevance to today and always.
As Rabbi Soloveitchik approached the conclusion of his lecture, he asked his listeners, "What Jewish law can we learn from the Purim story told in the Book of Esther."
There are multiple laws that can be derived, but the Rav was searching for the one that stood apart from the others. "The Central Halacha in מגילת אסתר," he answered, "is the duty of the individual to sacrifice his life, if the destiny and the future of the community is at stake." And someone - in this case Mordechai- may, also, coerce him or her to give his or her life if it will save the people.
Rabbi Soloveitchik seems to suggest that Esther's determination to have "Her" book, included in the Biblical Canon, went beyond a formal recognition of the salvation afforded the Jewish People. Her major intent may have been that her personal sacrifice, where she was willing to give of her life, and could have, in fact, lost her life, would be conveyed to the generations as a proper approach for each Jew to take, when they have the opportunity, to act on behalf of their People. After all, the other halachot observed during the holiday, show Purim to be a celebration of Jewish connection, shared fate and shared fortune.
These are difficult times facing the Jewish People throughout the world as we experience anti-Semitic threats. The Rav's understanding of Purim should give us greater strength to be pro-active in deterring these acts of hatred as Esther and Mordecai acted in Persia all those years ago.
May this Purim bring salvation to the Jewish people throughout the world and may we be blessed with a lasting and permanent peace for the State of Israel.
A Freilechen Purim to all.
פורים שמח
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