BH
Dearest friends and
comrades. Shalom again. I hope that this letter finds you all well, strong,
positive, happy and eagerly anticipating the Purim experience and miracle on a
personal and national level.
It should be made clear
that Purim is a golden opportunity to activate and see major miracles and
breakthroughs in life. This, in line with the special insight of the Magid of
Mezritch (the main disciple of the Baal Shem Tov), that just as Torah law
requires us to give charity and gifts to anyone who asks for them on Purim, so
too does this apply between man and God - whoever extends their hands in
prayer/request towards Hashem, He must also give!!!
Because of all this, the
spiritual and emotional preparations for Purim can make a major, major
difference. One very special preparation is the prayer composed by Reb Noson,
the primary disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. For a free download in
English of this powerful prayer, follow this link: purim preparation prayer ((c) BRI – Entering the Light
- Translated and Annotated by Dovid Sears).
* * *
Some Insight
into the Purim Story
The Talmud
teaches (Chullin 139b) that Haman, Esther and Mordechai are all hinted
to in the Torah itself.
- 'Ha'ma'n - in the verse regarding the sin of eating of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Bereishit 3:11): "...'Ha'Mi'N HaEtz (literally: from the tree) - Did you eat from the tree [which I commanded you not to eat?]"
- 'E's'the'r - in the verse regarding Hashem's relationship towards the Jews before the end of days (Devarim 31:17): "...I will Haster 'A'S'Ti'R (literally: conceal the concealment) - hide [My face from them]..."
- 'Mo'r'de'kha'i - in the verse regarding Hashem's command to Moshe to put together the fragrances making up the incense used in the Holy Temple (Shemot 30:23): "[You must take the finest fragrances]... 'Mo'R 'Dror (literally: pure myrrh)..." and the Aramaic translation of Dror is 'Da'Kh'Ia.
On a personal
level these 3 represent the evil one, the Jewish soul and the Tzaddik.
Haman/the
evil one uses the admixture and delusions of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and
Evil to fool a person. Being a zone between the totally good and totally evil
this Tree of Knowledge has characteristics of both sides of the coin. Haman - a
descendant from the Amalekite nation who were known for their sorcery to become
shape-changers - connotes doubts (both doubt - Safek in Hebrew - and
Amalek have a numerical value of 240). This changing from good to bad and vice
versa is meant to confuse and befuddle a person with doubts in life.
Esther
connotes the Jewish soul which, due to these confusions and tricks of
Haman-Amalek, remains concealed and trapped, unable to release and reveal her true
potential in life. The doubts of Haman lead to major feelings of futility,
which conceal and keep down the true power and expression of the Jewish soul,
stuck in a "concealment within a concealment".
Morkekhai the
Tzaddik, however, represents the supernatural power of the incense. Pure myrrh
- being the finest and first of all the 11 fragrances making up the incense -
culminates the power of the incense to wipe out and destroy all evil. This in
line with the secret revealed to Moshe by the angel of death himself that the
holy incense has this power to stop death and plague, and evoke joy,
heath, wealth etc. (see Rashi on Bamidbar 17:11-13).
Thus Esther,
by taking the advice and guidelines of Mordekhai the Tzaddik, was able to
overcome and crush the fears, doubts and futility induced by Haman/Amalek, and
display the greatest levels of self-sacrifice of Jewish existence.
This also
applies to every one of us at all times. The True Tzaddikim, similar to the
power of the incense, reveal to us our true potential to stand up to and crush
these doubts and fears - "Haman" - which attack us.
In Summary
Practical
steps to draw upon us now and today the light of Mordekhai and Esther
- Asking Hashem to sanctify us with the holiness of Mordekhai and Esther. (see above link to prayer).
- Simply and honestly reciting the Ketoret offering known as Pitum Haketoret. In the Holy Zohar, Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai reveals that saying the Pitum HaKetoret even today can activate all the power and benefits of the incense offering in the time of the Holy Temple. (for a free download and audio recitation: Pitum HaKetoret)
* * *
To help needy
and large families here in Jerusalem with their Purim expenses please follow: PURIM
SUPPORT
As a token for your help
and support please include (in the top left details box on the paypal
page) your Hebrew name along with mother's Hebrew name (if applicable) so
that we can daven for you - bli neder - for the next 40 consecutive
days including sporadic prayers at the Holy Cites here (e.g. the Kotel,
Kever Rachel, Shimon HaTzaddik etc.)
Shalom, Chodesh tov, and
may we all experience the true and powerful light of Mordekhai and Esther
Sincerely
Meir Elkabas
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