Reality Unmasked: The Sub-Plot of Purim

As always, we are looking very forward to another riveting presentation. Thanks in advance.

Dear Rabbi Jacobson;

Todah Ravah for your shiur for Purim that is very relevant to the State of Israel.

Shalom,
Kayo

a bit hard to digest, a pretty intense presentation.

Hi folks,
Purim is right around the corner and we all have pleasant obligation to increase our joy.
Here is a new opportunity for that; I welcome you all to do some workout with me: with full respect for Torah studying, you can get some joy through correlating the ideas of this class to our personal life. Kids love such type of ‘learning through playing.’
Find kid inside of you!
This time I am going to answer all uneven questions from the curriculum and leave even ones blank for you. Those who feel comfortable in playing games can try. Besides fun from the process of studying and generating the ideas you might get my Mishloach Manot (first come- first’s served). Hope it will not destroy discipline at our honorable Yeshiva.net and give others chance to study according to their personal pace.
Ready to try?
Good Luck!

Yes, for sure. I'm in.

If the decree against the Jews of Shushan was a result of their enjoying the feast with King A, and if Mordechai was a "butler" and assistant planner of the event and a Jewish community leader, then why would he not properly instruct the Jews on the proper attitude and conduct during the feast? I would have a hard time believing that he did not.

I am sure he did, but it was the mindset and perspective of the Jewish people which would not easily change. Sometimes two people can be at the same event but for two different reasons.
The point of the shuir as I understood was that the issue here was that the Jewish people lost focus of their entire mission and role in this world. They lost touch with who they were. This is amazing stuff.

So dod I get the idea? In Judaism, it is not that G-d ultimitely runs the world and is the boss, but that nature has its own agenda; rather it is all a garment for the Divine will, so nature too is Divine. So the decree of Haman was really about the Jewish relationship with G-d.
maybe this was mistake of the spies. they thought that G-d can do miracles but in the world of nature, there are "rules" which even G-d will not break. So in the Land the Jews will lose the war. their mistake was that even the natrual pateerns and forces are an expression of G-d.

עיין בחידושי הגרי"ז שג"כ ביאר הסיבה לשב לשקו ולתעניתו כי רכיבת הסוס לא היתה ביטול הגזירה אלא עילוי למרדכי ולכן לא שמח בזה כי העיקר הוא ביטול הגזירה וישועת ישראל. וע"ש שבזה נתבאר לשון הכתוב ומרדכי יצא גו' והעיר שושן, דמה השייכות? אלא כשראו מרדכי יוצא הבינו שנתבטלה הגזירה כי עבור הצלת עצמו לא הי' יוצא בלבושים אלה ולכן העיר שושן צהלה ושמחה.

אלא שלפי השיחה דפורים תשכ"ו שנתבאר פה, יש כאן עומק חדש לגמרי, ופשוט. דאי"כ רק שמרדכי דאג עבור בנ"י, אלא בעומק יותר, דאפילו אם חשב שזה כן יועיל לביטול הגזירה, ולכאורה כ"ה בפשטות שכן הועיל, מ"מ, אי"ז נוגע לו, דלו נוגע ביטול הגזירה מאת השי"ת.

All very nice, but when I think of the Holocaust, this entire dicusssion seems so problematic and difficult to internalize.

Okay Folks, cards face up!
It’s time! We have pretty busy schedule in ahead.
Questions and Exercises
1. What is the singular core-message of the entire Megilah?
As holy Arizal taught, it roots in ‘Mystery (sod) of the Tsimtzum’ In simple words it is presented with a familiar situation, when Mommy and Daddy are not at home, or when kids are sent to a summer camp and finally have a gulp of freedom…( just don’t forget that Mommy has a cell phone and time will come to be back…) Have difficulty to get it? Read the message “G-d is NowHere!” in a right way. Still have problems? Take out any US currency and read what is there on the top…
2. Why did Esther fast for three days before entering into the king?
Nope, your turn…
3. Why is G-d’s name not mentioned in the entire book of Esther? And why is Purim the only Jewish
holiday with a Persian name?
It is interesting that Mitzvah of reading Megilla Esther is counted for any Jew even if he or she doesn’t understand Hebrew but still take time in listening to it. So we might guess that Book of Esther was addressed precisely to generations severed from Sinai revelation with millenniums, lost from roots by historical twists and turns, who don’t know Hebrew but still have a pride of belonging to this nation. They might be detached from their spiritual roots up to the point when G-d’s name would be absolutely irrelevant or even foreign to them. Those Persian, Greek, Turkish, Russian, English speakers would willingly accept international loanword ‘Purim’.
4. Do you compromise your spiritual integrity and your relationship to G-d because of material pressures
and responsibilities? How so? Can you do it differently?
Nu…?
5. Does Judaism believe in diplomacy, or does it teach complete reliance on G-d?
Judaism believes that diplomacy can work only there and then, when we first reliance on G-d.
6. If G-d runs the world why should you employ diplomacy?
I know you’ve got an answer…!
7. What was the primary mistake of the Shushan Jews during the Purim era?
They enjoyed not only food but they liked to lose their identity.
And it’s not only theirs but hundreds of thousands coming after them. Here I would like to borrow some wisdom from Israeli writer Igor Guberman: Being genetically perfectionists, Jews always fluctuate between full spectrums of personality disorders and finally gravitate to self- insufficiency (Rabbi Jacobson mentioned about fish that flip-flap without water). Subconsciously they apply high level standard towards themselves but never to others. It’s hard to live under constant psychological burden and demands of your inner essence, so they try to escape from that, they may find relieve through assimilation: “ I am not like them (Jews), I am better, I am like you Persians, like you Russians, like you Germen, like you Americans…” We are the same Shushan Jews in 21 century.
I am not as smart as sound: it’s just a Purim mask…
8. Do you worship the forces of nature in your personal life? How so?
Pardon, loader please…?
Have fun!

There are no words to express my gratitude for your weekly E-mails and Shiurim. May Hashem bless you and your family with all that is good

Rabbi Jacobson is one of the greatest teachers we merit to hear. He embodies the highest aspirations of the Torah, and is able to give us the most profound teachings of the Rebbe. May G-d give him and his family (Sheyichu) much success, brochos, nachas, joy, and may he continue to spread the holy words of the Torah and Chassidus to Jews and non-Jews all around the world.

Baruch HaShem,

After psychiatric hospitalization, it has been almost 2years. Just a few months ago, my doctor gave me a permission to work. I had been so frustrated by this recoverly process. But Ata Yadaeti. Thank you for this your shiur I realized the order of the world. Maybe, what I really should do is a deep introspection to see my blood is aligned with the Source of all, including my illness.

Esther didn't forget who runs the world; she fasted first.

This may be your best delivery yet. Thank you for the inspiring & enthusiastic message. Happy Purim!

thanks for the clarity, the message, and the inspiration. it is always needed.