We have invited Rabbi Yosef Benarroch this week to share some thoughts with us. Rabbi Benarroch is the Rabbi of Midreshet Eshel in Jerusalem and lectures here at Berot Bat Ayin. Born in Tangiers, Morocco, he holds a degree in Education from the University of Manitoba, an M.S. in Jewish History from Tauro College and is a graduate of Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was ordained as Rabbi by Machon Harry Fischel in Jerusalem. Rabbi Benarroch also served as the Rabbi for the Sephardic Community in Vancouver, Canada.
 
One Jewish Man-ish Yehudi
by Rabbi Yosef Benarroch

It is the introduction of Mordechai that will shed light on all of our questions. The Rabbis in the Midrash explain why Mordechai is introduced as a “Jewish Man (Ish Yehudi)”. They state the following, “Why was he called a Jew (Yehudi)? Because he made the name of
G-d one before the people of the world therefore he was called Yihudi (one)”.
(Esther Rabah)

It may be a cute play on words between the word Yehudi (Jew) and Yihudi (one), but to our Rabbis the message of Mordechai’s name is a powerful one. He understood that the power of Jewish existence had to do with the number one and the unity it embodies. Morecai taught the world that there was one G-d and he taught the Jewish people that their salvation would be the result of their unity, their steadfast trust in one G-d and their ability to unite as one people. It is for this reason that when Esther acts, her first request is to “Go and gather all of Jewish people in the capital of Shushan and fast for me for three days… and Mordecai did everything as Esther requested (Book of Esther 4:17).

Perhaps we can better understand the words of Haman. He too understood that the power of the Jewish nation was in their unity. He understood that to destroy the Jewish nation he would need to destroy their unity. It is for this reason that he says to the King that they are scattered and dispersed. He was telling the King that they were not unified, not in their love for each other and not in their faith in G-d, and so victory could be achieved. It is also for this reason that Haman is so intent of annihilating the Jewish nation in ONE day.

The Sefat Emet explains that every Purim we must access the energy of unity that the holiday provides. He goes on to explain that all of the commandments of Purim reflect unity. When it comes to the reading of the Megilah the law stipulates that it should be done in public with as large a gathering as possible. So too we are required to send baskets of food to our friends and to give to the poor. These acts, explains the Sefat Emet, are in order to arouse within us the power of unity. We pray and read the Megilah together, we take care of the poor together, and we send gifts to one another.

Finally we are required to eat a festive meal together as the Book of Esther states, “And these days should be celebrated by every generation, and by every family, and by every province, and by every city, and these days of Purim should never cease amongst the Jews” (Book of Esther 9:28). Indeed the entire festival of Purim allows us to reach out in love and joy, as a united nation. Haman sought to destroy this and Mordechai knew how important it was to preserve.