NICE DRASHA FOR PURIM….

This drasha was said by Rav Amiel who was (amongst other things) the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv in the 1930s and was a tremendous darshan.

The gemara in Megillah states: Chayav adom likro es Ha’Megillah balayla, u’lishanosa bayom”. A person is required to read the Megillah by night and to repeat it by day. Simple question here. Why does the gemara need to to say “u’lishanosa”? It could simply say “chayav adom likro es Ha’Megillah balayla, U’vayom”?

Even more strange is the lashon used in the Shulchan Aruch, which basically lifts this line out of the gemara, but adds to it as follows:

“Chayav adom likro es Ha’Megillah balayla, Vilachzor ulishanosa bayom”. Why does the mechaber of the Shulchan Aruch use the double lashon of the requirement to repeat the Megillah by day?

If you had to take one line out of the Megillah, and use it to summarize the message of the Megillah, what would it be? You have five minutes to think about it 🙂

Okay, give up? I think it would be, “U’Mordechai lo yichra, vilo yishtachaveh” That no matter what the possible consequences, Mordechai is determined not to give in to what Haman wants to do to him and us. This is the message of the Megillah. That no matter what the world wants to do to us, we must remain steadfast in our beliefs.

There are periods in Jewish history when things are terrible for Klal Yisrael. There was the churbanot, the Inquisition, the Holocaust etc. All these terrible times are symbalized by “layla”, darkness. Then there are periods when things seem to be better and this is symbalized as “bayom”, day. (As Ronald Reagan said “It is morning in America”). We know that America is the greatest galus Jews ever experienced. BUT, it does not mean there is no danger out there. There are books, articles, internet, movies, missionaries etc., who are trying to undermine everything we believe in. But the difference is, that it is all done in a very subtle manner, which is hardly noticeable. It is a fact that the enemy that one cannot see is frequently more dangerous than the visible enemy. Our children are especially vulnerable to this danger!

Therefore, says the Shulchan Aruch….”Chayav adom likro es Ha’Megillah balayla”. When it is night, and things are really bad for us, of course we must read the message that “U’Mordechai lo yichra….” We will never give in to our enemies…no matter what.

But when it is YOM, and things APPEAR to be going okay, then……..Velachzor U’lishanosa Bayom!!!! One has to chazor the message AGAIN AND AGAIN because it is hard to recognize the fact that there are people out there who are trying very hard to undermine our yehadus!

This message is especially important to drive home to our youngsters who are most vulnerable.