Rabbi Frand on Purim
This dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 230, The
Mitzvah of Shekalim and Davening Mussaf. Good Shabbos!
The Symbolism of Haman's Offer of Silver Shekels
The Megillah [Esther 3:9] states that Haman offered to increase the King's
coffers by 10,000 kikar silver in exchange for the right to get rid of the
Jews. (Tosfos in Tractate Megillah [16a] indicates that this was a half
Shekel for every Jewish person.) The simple analysis of Haman's offer is
that Haman was afraid that Achashverosh would object to the loss of Jewish
tax revenue if he killed them all. To pre-empt that financial objection,
Haman was ready to sweeten the deal for the King by making an offer of ten
thousand kikar silver.
On the metaphysical level, however, the Rabbis tell us that Haman was trying
to negate the merit of the Jews annual half Shekel contribution to the
Temple's upkeep. The Gemara [Megilla 13b] says that since HaShem [G-d] knew
that Haman would offer Shekels to Achashverosh to 'purchase' the right to
destroy the Jews, HaShem pre-empted Haman's contribution through the half-
shekel. The merit of the Jews contributing the annual half-shekel protected
them (in the future) against Haman's evil designs.
I once heard an interpretation of this Gemarah in the name of the Yismach
Yisrael. Haman's potential for destroying the Jewish people was hinted at in
his own description of the nation: "There is a people that is dispersed and
divided..." [Esther 3:8]. It is only because there is division and
unjustified hatred within the Jewish nation that their enemies have the
ability to harm them.
When the Jews are divided, they represent only individuals -- not a Klal [a
communal entity]. When that happens we have lost our strength.
Haman's whole plot was based on the division of the nation. That is why G-d
insisted that each Jew should give exactly one half shekel. The symbolism of
the half shekel is that each Jew is only a fraction of the entity. He needs
to combine with his fellow Jew to make a significant contribution. If we
think we can be 'an entire shekel unto ourselves', that is not going to work.
Our strength is through the recognition that we need each other, and the
realization that we need to set aside our petty differences to come
together to provide a complete shekel.
This is the strength that ultimately saved the Jewish people. Because of the
terrible calamity that was hanging over them as a result of Haman's decree,
they decided to put away those 'dispersions and divisions in the nation' and
came together as a unit and as a whole.
Sources and Personalities
Yismach Yisrael (1863-1910) Rav Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Danziger, the
second Alexander Rebbe. He was Niftar in 1909.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi YissocherFrand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
