QUEEN ESTHER - The Power of Sarah

The connection between Queen Esther and the Matriarch Sarah is drawn out through the number 127.

The Midrash teaches that Rebbi Akiva told his students: "Why did Achashverosh merit to rule over 127 nations? Since Esther, a descendant of Sarah who lived 127 years, was destined to be the queen over his entire kingdom.

Through this, the Midrash shows that there is a special connection between Sarah and Queen Esther.

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Sarah, Rashi explains, connotes rulership (שררה in Hebrew). And since any type of ruler expresses his/her command through speech, Sarah, the wife of Avraham - who was the first to seek out and reveal Hashem's presence and providence in the world, thus connotes the embodiment of pure and holy speech. It is for this reason that when Pharaoh took her to be with him, she simply "ordered" the angel to attack Pharaoh, to which he complied.

Since the letters of speech are the building blocks with which Hashem used to create the universe, they are thus the life-support and nourishment of everything in the creation, including that which is evil.

Due to this, the evil in creation tries its most to gain more and more nourishment and sustenance from the power of speech.

The Kabbalah teaches that the embodiment of evil is coined as the three officials of Pharaoh, Pharaoh himself, and the land of Egypt.

The three officials of Pharaoh - the wine steward, the chief baker, and the chief butcher, correspond respectively to the trachea (windpipe), the esophagus (food-pipe), and the jugular veins which are all responsible for the food intake and effects in the body (the windpipe regulates cool air in the blood system so that the heat generated by the heart does not dehydrate the body of its liquids (i.e. corresponding to the wine steward), while the jugular veins regulate the blood drainage to and from the head which is mainly responsible for the lust and desire in a person to eat that which is not necessary for survival (i.e. corresponding to the chief butcher)).

These three conduits are located in the neck with the nape behind them. The nape - HaORePh in Hebrew - has the same letters as PhaRAoH.

The throat, the narrowest part of the body, corresponds to Egypt-Mitzrayim. Mitzrayim is rooted in the word Meitzar, which connotes narrowness.

To explain: since the 5 sections of speech (gutturals, laterals, etc.) are located also in the throat area, the 3 officials of Pharaoh try to, so-to-speak, "trap" a person's speech by getting him to overindulge in eating improperly, which explains the juxtaposition of the eating and speech mechanisms both being in the throat area. Since food is the main force in creation which joins soul and body together, it goes to say that the sparks of holy speech contained within food (also because food produces energy which is later used to speak words of praise and thanks to Hashem) are extremely powerful and resourceful to the realm of evil.

Once trapped these three officials give over this "speech-energy" to Pharaoh their ruler, located in the nape. This gives Pharaoh full authority over this potentially holy speech which he then uses to rule over Mitzrayim, the tightness of the throat.

All this results in that a person loses his power of holy speech which is reflected in his inability to properly call out and pray to Hashem. With this inability, a person then becomes dejected and depressed over the fact that he needs major salvation in life through prayer, but is unable to even open his mouth to ask Hashem of the salvation needed.

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To get out of this situation the force of "Sarah" is needed. Sarah - which is holy and pure speech - receives this title through her ability of renewal. As Rashi explains, when she was 100 she was like 20 (in beauty), and when she was 20 she was like 7 (free of sin). This concept of going "backwards" is the concept of renewal, whereby a person always starts again.

This renewal gives a person a freshness that specifically renews ones faith/emunah. With emunah in check, a person is more aware and careful of the quality and quantity of food consumption, thus breaking the clutches of Pharaoh's three "henchmen".

Renewal is also the concept of fasting/refraining/diet in that a person uses energy from "beforehand" in order to function at the present time.

Once weakened, the holy force called Sarah now enters the domain of Pharoah's "Egypt/MItzrayim" unhindered. Since the evil side always lurks to leech off the energy of holy speech, they are more than happy to welcome Sarah into their domain. However, this is to their detriment, as the holy force of Sarah then extracts and releases all traces of holiness and holy speech trapped therein due to previous blemishes in eating. This results in a recognition of Hashem as ruler by people from all walks of like (who were until now fooled into a secular, mundane life due to the influence of Pharaoah and his Egypt) and their coming to worship Hashem in line with the faith of the Jewish nation, Hashem's Chosen people.

This is all reflected in the biblical narration of the descent of Avraham and Sarah into Egypt during a famine, the capture of Sarah by the "officials" of Pharaoh, and her being taken to Pharaoh's palace to cohabit with him, the infliction of Pharaoh and his household, and then the leaving of Avraham and Sarah with abundant wealth from Pharaoh.

The famine connotes a limitation of eating which is also the concept of renewal.

This led to the descent of Avraham and Sarah into Egypt/Mitzrayim, the tightness of the throat. Sarah was then taken captive by the officials of Pharaoh who praised her for being fit to be given to Pharaoh the king - i.e. to trap the spiritual energy of Sarah/speech.

When Pharaoh tried to approach her, the Midrash relates that Sarah prostrated on the ground in prayer, when Hashem sent an angel who at her command striked and inflicted Pharaoh with a severe leprosy. This symbolizes the submission of Pharaoh before Sarah/Holy Speech.

Pharaoh then giving Avraham gifts of gold, silver, donkeys, camels etc. connotes the holy sparks extracted from Egypt/Mitzrayim, only adding to the dominion of Sarah/Holy Speech in the world.

(For more on these concepts, see Likutey Moharan lessons 62 and 163. 
For a clear audio presentation of these ideas in greater detail please follow this link: LIKUTEY MOHARAN LESSONS 62 AND 163)

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In the Purim story, the Midrash states that it was Haman who convinced Achashverosh to make a feast of 7 days for the Jews of Shushan. In total 18,544 Jews partook of this feast, eating and drinking way in excess and even of non-kosher products (e.g. the wine was not kosher wine). This was done so as to trap the Jews under the control of Pharaoh's three officials and eventually that of Pharaoh himself and Egypt (note: even though Haman was not part of the Egyptian nation, still the influence and concept of Pharaoh was present in Haman's evil plot to wipe out and destory the Jewish nation - the goal of Pharaoh's purpose in preventing Jews from Holy Speech/Sarah).

Haman himself, as the Talmud teaches, is hinted to in the Torah in the verse regarding the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, where Hashem asks Adam: "HaMIN HaEtz... [could it be that] from the Tree in which I ordered you not to eat from (i.e. the Tree of Knowledge) did you eat (HaMaN and HaMin have the same root letters)? This shows the root of Haman in inproper eating, which as explained above is the key in trapping the force of Holy Speech/Sarah.

Once done the next stage was to get the essence of Sarah/Holy Speech to enter and become trapped in the realm of evil. To do so, Haman concealed his act so that even the evil realm itself should not be fully aware of his secret plot.

This started with his suggestion that Vashti be killed (the majority of opinions hold that Memuchan who suggested the execution of Vashti was actually Haman). Vashti - ושתי - is etymologically symilar to the word ושט - the esophagus (the Hebrew letters ט and ת are interchangable due to their common root in their section of speech - the linguals - דטלנת). By having Vashti killed, he wanted to show that the improper force of eating - the food-pipe had been eradicated, thus preparing for the coming of Sarah/holy speech.

His second suggestion to Achashverosh was to make a general proclamation that every man should be a ruler (Sorrer - שורר in Hebrew which is one with שרה-Sarah) in his home. This second decree made a laughing stock out of Achashverosh since obviously every man rules in his home. However, Haman's deeper intent was to already activate the presence of Sarah/rulership nationwide in order to convince Sarah/Holy Speech that there was no threat and danger in entereing the realm of evil. For this is the way of Haman - to hide the true intent of his ploy even from the realm of evil itself in order to bypass any possible obstructions.

Next, Haman was part of the advisory board who suggested to Achashverosh to find another wife. His overt intention was that Achashverosh should take Haman's daughter in marriage. However his real intent was that Esther - the true symbol of Sarah in that generation, be taken into the realm of holiness. 

With the Jews in exile for 70 years, their prostrating to the idol of Nevuchadnezzar, their eating of forbidden foods at the ball of Achashverosh, he hoped to totally subdue once and for all with Sarah/Holy Speech/Esther - the essence of Jewish Faith and Hope.

Once this was accomplished, he could also easily eradicate the Jewish existence with everything that it stood for, mainly the power of prayer.

However, Mordekhai, like Avraham, was one who constantly yearned to spread the awareness of Hashem, His rulership and His Divine Providence in the world. He would not let Esther silently sink away in the palace of Achashverosh, the chamber of evil.

By urging Esther to do something, she requested that the Jews fast for 3 days for her success. By doing so, she activated the Jews subduing the influence of Pharaoh's "3" officials who gained the upper hand at Achashverosh's ball. The fast also renewed the Jewish faith which allowed them to cry out to Hashem in heartfelt prayer.

With this Esther entered into Achashverosh and succeeded in bringing about the downfall of Haman and his evil plot.

As a result, the story of Purim relates that there became world recognition of the greatness of Mordekhai and Esther (i.e. Avraham and Sarah), with many gentiles abandoning their previous way of life, and converting to Judasim (see Esther chap. 9).

(For an audio presentation of these ideas please follow: HAMAN'S PLOY TO DESTROY ESTHER-SARAH)

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May we also merit a modern-day Purim miracle, where Jews all over will sincerely start again with a fresh renewal, and cry out to Hashem to bring them closer, thus activating the presence and awareness of Hashem's Providence throughout the world, leading to an abandoning of all false beleifs and lifestyles, Amen.

By: Meir Elkabas

Mission Possible!

Dear Friends,

A year and half ago on November 20th 2013 Sephardic Legacy Series – Institute for Preserving Sephardic Heritage held our Inaugural Tribute Luncheon Honoring the contributions of Sephardic Jews in America in US Congress. This Luncheon was historical, monumental and allowed Rabbis, activist, and Philanthropists from Sephardic communities across the United States to collaborate with lawmakers in order to assist their respective Sephardic communities. Senators and members of Congress discussed Iran’s threat towards the State of Israel and to the Jewish people around the world. After this great event there was successful follow up with Senators and members of Congress and we were able to assist the Iraqi Jewish Archives and other crucial points which are disclosed for security purposes. Having that in mind I felt a need that Sephardic communities and representation from various cities across Canada needed to share their respective voice in Canada as well.

B’nai Brith Canada, in conjunction with the Sephardic Legacy Series – Institute for Preserving Sephardic Heritage, will lead a historical delegation to Ottawa. This full day mission will feature meetings with Israeli Diplomats, Government and Elected Officials and Ministers, and passes to watch Question Period live in the House of Commons where Prime Minister Harper and all members of Parliament will debate government business of the day. This delegation is a cross-section of Sephardic community leaders, activists, philanthropists, business people, spiritual leaders and clergy from across Canada. This will be the first time that an organized group of the Sephardic communities from across Canada will visit Ottawa to meet with members of parliament, ministers, ambassadors and other government officials.

It is therefore critical that the Canadian government use its diplomatic influence to help prevent Iran from acquiring weapons capability. Our testimony before Parliament, one week prior to the holiday of Purim, will help its members better understand why Iran poses a danger to Canada, Israel and the Western World.

Sincerely,
Yehuda Azoulay

Website: http://www.sephardiclegacy.com/

From Falls to Ascent

In material matters such as health and  livelihood, it’s clear that we need to believe that everything that happens is all from Hashem, but the truth is that not everyone realizes this. Even so, when a person has a mental understanding of this, he’ll be able to recognize this if you explain it to him.  We need to know that this is also how it works with spiritual matters.  Whatever doesn’t work out for you, or every time the evil inclination beats you, every fall, difficulty, and lust, know that this is all “I am Hashem”.  The foundation that everything is from Him, may His name be blessed, is true for everything, both physical and spiritual.  If a person would know that his evil inclination and all of its fight against him is all from Hashem, then he’d say thank You for all of it and respond to it fittingly – then he’d merit fixing everything and going upwards in the service of Hashem.

However, concerning matters of spirituality, it’s hard for a person to recognize that everything is from Hashem.  A person says in his heart: ‘I have free will and I had the ability to choose good, but in the end I chose bad – it’s all my fault.’  Therefore we need to learn over and over again until we internalize the principle that the Gemara says that unless Hashem helps, a person cannot overpower his evil inclination!  This means that a person needs help from Hashem also in matters of free will.  Therefore, before every action, a person needs to remember that he needs Hashem’s help to succeed and to avoid failure.  Then, after a failure, he must know that Hashem didn’t help him.  After he’s already failed there’s a new way to exercise his free-will:  to think, Heaven forbid, that now, too, he doesn’t need Hashem’s help, the direct result of which is to blame himself in his failure and fall to self-persecution.  The result of this is clear – he’ll be depressed and distance himself from Hashem and from prayer.  His other option is to know that he needs Hashem’s help and ask Hashem to let him know that the reason he failed in the first place was because Hashem didn’t help him and ask Hashem to let him know why He didn’t help.

When a person wants to understand what Hashem wants from him, first he needs to say thank You for every fall or failure in spirituality. A person asks: “I’m going to say thank You for sinning and going against what Hashem wants?!”  This question comes from not knowing what it means ‘to say thank You for failing’.  Certainly you’re not happy about sin and you don’t say "thank You for the sin".  A sin is a sin and a person needs to regret sinning and repent.  If so, for what do we say thank You?  We’re saying thank You for the knowledge that we acquired: because of the failure, you woke up and became aware that you need Hashem’s help – the thanksgiving is for the emuna and for the knowledge that you acquired only as a result of failing.

The knowledge of emuna is that you don’t have the power to overcome the evil inclination without the help of The Holy One, blessed be He. If you weren’t successful, then you have to admit that Hashem didn’t help you.  If Hashem didn’t help you then this is certainly for the good, because everything that Hashem does, he does for the good. You thank Him for waking you up and bringing you closer to Him by way of not helping you.  If you don’t say thank You for your spiritual failures, it’s a sign that you think that “you” failed - that is to say that you think you’re a reality and it’s in your hands to fail – this is atheism and arrogance.  If so, you’ll never be able to succeed or make progress because you want to succeed “on your own”, without recognizing the truth - that it’s all just Hashem.  Practically speaking, you’re living a huge lie.  The only real mark of “I am Hashem” is giving thanks for everything and this is the only first step towards genuine rectification.

Therefore a person needs at least an hour of hitbodedut [personal prayer in your own words] of proper repentance and self-evaluation each day.  This hitbodedut will bring him back to living the reality of Hashem - that everything is “I am Hashem”, and giving thanks for everything and requesting  forgiveness.  It’s forbidden to remain with the feeling of “sorry, I sinned” and that’s it.  Rather we need to understand that his sinning is also what Hashem wants, because Hashem didn’t help him in order to teach him emuna and this is genuinely good.  With every sin, first say thank You and say to Hashem: “Thank You for not helping me so that I can internalize the knowledge that I can’t make it without You; I need You always.  Even with spiritual matters I need Your help to choose properly.  Also, when I fall, help me to choose to learn emuna from it instead of falling into depression.”  Then, only after a person comes to recognize this and says thank You, as we learned, he can come and ask Hashem for help not to fail in the future and ask for more help from Hashem, because only He can help him in the war against the evil inclination.  This way he’ll learn how to live the reality of Hashem in every situation and how to get closer to Hashem through all of the falls and tests of life. That way, the falls turn into the greatest ascents.

By: Rabbi Shalom Arush.

Website: http://www.breslev.co.il