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March 01, 2007
The Queen's Tail
Take Vashti' s tail. There is some thing very disturbing in the notion that manifest Divine intervention caused Vashti's downfall. Not, G-d forbid, that such intervention should be impossible for G-d to accomplish. But it seems radically out of order in the Purim story. The name of G-d is deliberately absent from Megilah Esther, and G-d is obliquely referred to only as Hamelech—the King. This is because Megilat Esther is the primary document of our survival in the Diaspora. It' s message is clear. G-d will continue to protect the Jewish people, even when he acts in a non-miraculous, hidden manner.
So what, then, really happened to Vashti?
To read Rabbi Yitzchak Adlerstein's entire article, please click here.
The Persian Empire sought to exterminate the Jewish people centuries ago. It is noteworthy that once again, this same empire is on the rise, with the exact same genocidal intentions. As we fast and pray and contemplate our place on earth and in the universe, let us study the Megillah and note that in the ancient Persian kingdom, when faced with the threat of genocide, the Jewish people fasted, prayed to G-d—then purchased weapons. And struck their enemies in a manner which can only be termed a pre-emptive strike; it was a war of self-defense.
The enemy of the Jews, Haman, and his entire family were, quite properly, hung by the neck until dead. The Megillah expresses no doubt or remorse about the execution of this greedy, power-hungry, murderous figure. How sickeningly familiar is Haman. The attitude of the Megillah is quite down-to-earth: evil and all its enablers must be stamped out in order for good to triumph.
And this:
Adolph Hitler once said that there would be “no Mordecai and Esther to save the Jews.” His remarks were met with great laughter. He went on to say, in a speech delivered on January 30, 1944, that, if the Nazis went down in defeat, the Jews could celebrate a second Purim.
It is also true that there is not a single instance of a regime or tyrant that threatened Jews, that did not attempt to follow through with their threats.
To read the rest of Seraphic Friend Sigmund, Carl & Alfred's fine blogillah, please click here.
There is much to learn from the ancient holiday of Purim.
Karen and I wish all our Seraphic Friends a meaningful Fast of Esther.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at March 1, 2007 11:49 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Also of note is that the movie "300" premieres next week: a small band of Westerners kicks some serious Persian Empire butt. Coincidence? I hope not..
Posted by: Lt. J. Fishman at March 1, 2007 12:50 PM
Lt. Fishman:
Good to hear from you. We've missed you're presence. Well, Thermopalye. What a grand battle. And it took a traitor to give away the back door for an eventual Persian victory. The trailer is seriously scary—in a good way. Let's hope it's a good film. I want a heroic movie about warriors to succeed. My only fear is that the highly stylized look will become deeply wearying to the eye over the course of an entire film.
Coincidence? No way.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 1, 2007 01:01 PM
I hope you'll forgive me, but vis a vis this entry, Purim is my holiday...
I wrote a little story about it. And, G-d willing, I'll update it again this year...
I think you might find it interesting. It's at:
http://lifeisbeautifulallthetime.blogspot.com/
A Freilichin Purim!
Posted by: Moishe3rd at March 1, 2007 06:14 PM
Moishe:
Very interesting. Thanks so much for linking us to your article. A freileche Purim to you and yours!
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at March 1, 2007 09:33 PM
Thank you.
I just updated the beginning and the end once more.
Have a good Shabbos.
Moishe
Posted by: Moishe3rd at March 2, 2007 10:34 AM
I enjoyed the article - although I must say that I prefer the literal version where she actually grew a tail. Can't you think of at least one person you'd like to see that happen to :)
MH
Posted by: mata hari at March 2, 2007 10:44 AM
Mata Hari:
Excuuuuse me, but I know several people in Hollywood, male and female, who most definitely have tails.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at March 2, 2007 11:00 AM
Thanks so much for your posts - each one is so inspiring, in so many different ways! Politics, Relationships, Torah - all the threads follow the common theme of Truth, of emotional, psychological and political Truth. It is so refreshing!!!
(Just wondering: WHY didn't Jane find someone ELSE???)
BTW, also read the Jerusalem Report article - which was NOT at all arrogant (your friend is just jealous) - enjoyed seeing the portrait of Karen in the background photo - it was SO Seraphic Secret!
Freilichen Purim to Casa Avrech!
Posted by: Yael at March 2, 2007 11:40 AM
Yael:
You are very kind. Glad we can inspire you. I am inspired by, who else, Karen.
There was one other great love in Jane Austen's life and I will write about that soon. Unfortunately, Jane Austen was trapped by her miserable financial status, by her lack of social status, and at that time at that place it doomed her to spinsterhood. Very sad, indeed.
My friend is not really jealous, just kinda, y'know, outspoken. I think my friend, who really is a good friend, misspoke and really meant that I came across as "curmudgeonly." Which is just fine by me.
Ever since that article came out, I walk around the house calling Karen my "Petite Psychologist."
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at March 2, 2007 12:12 PM
Vashti wasn't killed. She was only divorced by the king. Now Artaxerxes I was a stickler for the law laid down by the grandfather of Cyrus, that no decree of the king could ever be reversed (put in as a precaution against assassination) so he could not take her back, according to his own values.
This is one of a number of ways the megillah is read wrong - some maybe traditional some ure mistakes, like making Mordechai Esther's uncle (that's because if he had been exiled himself and it was now almost 70 years later, he'd have to be at least 590 years older than her if she was young - somehow this got changed - but he was her first cousin. I could go on. The only problem is in Ezra Chapter 3 or 4 but uit has answers I can give.
Posted by: Sammy Finkelman at March 2, 2007 01:28 PM
sammy:
"The only problem is in Ezra Chapter 3 or 4 but uit has answers I can give"
ez 2:2 and neh 7:7
this is not the same mordechai as in esther.
one of my middle names is mordechai. surely if there have been 2 mordechais in history there could have been 3.
Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at March 5, 2007 11:30 PM