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March 16, 1995

Idea for Purim - Collective Guilt (1995)

Parshat Zachor & Purim General Jewish Thought
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Purim - YU Shabbaton (1997)

בעלי תוס׳ – איך העיזו עמלק להלחם עם ישראל אחרי ששמעו על נצחונותיהם האדירים? ותירצו – חשבו שרייה הם – עמרם, משה, לוי, קהת... א״כ שגם להם יש כחות על־טבעיים. אבל – סופי תבות – מית״ה... וז״ש ע״י בלעם – "ראשית גויים עמלק ואחריתם עדי אובד" – העולם רואים רק את ראשי תבות – חיצוניות, אבל בסופו של דבר, סופי התיבות מכריעים. This = kind disguise hypocricy tht evokes anger. But another kind – tears, compassion: Late Dr Israel Eldad – boy at עדדלאידע parade T.A. dressed lk Hasid: What are you? I'M DISGUISED AS A JEW! Few lessons: a) pathetc tht Israeli child has t disguise t b Jewish; b) difTce Israeli/Jew; I mention this as prelude t intrst'g probl : מגילה "איש יהודי היה בשושן הבירה ושמו מרדכי בן יאיר בן שמעי בן קיש איש ימיני"… רש״י: או שבט יהודה או בנימין? ומשיב שנקרא "יהודי" שגם שבט בנימין גלה עמהם... א אבל יש שאלה מהרי״ מברוגא – מי שנדר לא לשחק עם יהודי, האם מותר לו לשחק עם משומד? ותשובת מהרי" איסרליו שאמנם ישראל שחטא ישראל הוא, אבל לא יהודי... שיהודי = מי שמעורב עם בני עמו... A halakh'y valid J – insuffcnt... must strive f feelngs solidrty/fmdshp/oneness all Js. THUS – Madelaine Albright... Zev Chafetz... כד – מרדכי בא משבט בנימין אבל היה יהודי – "רצוי לרוב אחיו דורש טוב לעמו ודובר שלום לכל זרעו" But NOTE – רצוי לרוב אחיו & Sages – most of hs colleagues in Sanhedrin פרש ממנו – indeed, much to disagree w re: Mordcai's policies. YET they had mutual goal – דורש טוב לעמו ודובר שלום לכל זרעו & so were able to & were obligated t work togther f our ppi – as full expression of being >technic'y but actually Jewish – truly יהודים...
Parshat Zachor & Purim General Jewish Thought

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Purim and Dualism (1989)

In reading the Megillah today, it occurred to me that there is in the Megillah a remarkable phenomenon of duplication. The repetition of certain things twice seems to crop up all through the work. Thus: There are two drinking parties, one for the nobility and one for the masses. There are two parties, one for Vashti, and one for Esther. More to the point, because they are inherently inexplicable (for which reason the Sages and Commentaries offer a variety of explanations) such as: A gathering of the maidens at a beauty contest to choose a queen twice—even though Esther had been chosen after the first one; Esther invites the king and Haman twice—even though she could have accused Haman at the first party; the legislation of two days of Purim, one for closed cities and one for open cities—a distinction which has no parallel elsewhere in the Torah and which defies easy explanation; and Mordechai and Esther twice legislate the reading of the Megillah and the attendant mitzvot on Purim--even though once would have sufficed. How to explain all this? Perhaps it is a subtle reaction against the dominant Persian religion. It has been commented often that Megillot Esther goes out of its way not to emphasize Jewish religion; thus, there is no mention of the name of G-d. The references to Him are vague and indirect. This is so, apparently, because the writers of the Megillah are still in exile, and must not upset the local authorities and masses who would not want the Jewish G-d to be credited with their redemption. For the same reason, the authors included subtle attacks, sardonic and satiric and humorous in nature, against the dualism of ancient Persian religion. By emphasizing the number 2 in the story of Jewish redemption, they mean to emphasize that the very number that characterizes the Persian religion is the characteristic number whereby the Children of Israel won their triumph against the Persians.
Parshat Zachor & Purim General Jewish Thought

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לפרשת זכור (1998)

1. פרשת זכור usually focus on עמלק ומחיית עמלק and vs evil. Is as should be; but not whole story. ST: R. Y. Eibeschutz and Bishop: why Jsm hatred... (Gordon Alport). So: no agree Ernest Simon/Purim... Still, really need emphsz אהבה. Since don't hv it, let's fill in picture by spk'g of Tor's postv attitude to Goyim/non-obsrvt Js/ourselves. 2. Goyim: Note how basic Halkh includes קידוש/חילול ה'... רמב"ם הל' גזלה ואבדה פי"א ה"ג – אבידת הגוי מותרת שנ' "אבידת אחיך", והמחזירה הרי זה עובר עבירה
Parshat Zachor & Purim General Jewish Thought