TORAH CONCEPTS

Torah

 

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Torah

original essays on subjects from Torah, Neviim and Kesuvim

Torah Page Megilas Esther 62328072_s.jpg

Pesach vs Purim - Heavenly vs human

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On Purim they fulfilled what they had accepted already (Shabbos 88:1)

What had they accepted?

Torah – Min Hashamayim (from Heaven) 

  • The Jews went down to Egypt due to famine

  • The plagues were a suspension of nature by Hashem, for example hail was fire and water together

  • The people had no input, apart from listening to Moshe. In fact, most the time they were required to stay indoors 

  • Matan Torah – Hashem held the mountain over their heads – passive acceptance

What was the fulfillment of Purim?

Lo Bashamayim hi – it (Torah) is not in heaven

  • Mordechai determines the direction to follow, thus manipulating the outcome through hidden hashgocha (providence) – venahapoch hu (it was turned upside down)

  • Esther and the Jews risk their lives to follow Mordechai’s direction

  • The ultimate fulfillment of Torah is Torah shebal peh (Oral Torah) – the determination of halacha (law) and hadracha (direction) by chachamim and the trust of people in the chachamim - the human element of Torah

Turning Yad Adam into Yad Hashem

  • Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah as the creation of the Jewish People and the receiving of our constitution, had to be the Yad Hashem as all is founded on Hashem and His Torah– therefore the Haggadah has no mention of Moshe

  • Purim, is the ultimate fulfillment of the Torah, being the human input therein - to the point where the story becomes Torah Shebichtav (written Torah) – the power to turn Yad Adam into Yad Hashem -  The Megillah has no mention of Hashem

  • Therefore the relationship between Pesach and Purim – Haman drew the pur (lot) in Nissan and Esther fasted on Pesach and the lot was drawn for Adar.

  • Pesach is Yad H’ – thus we start the year understanding all is from Hashem and end the year putting this knowledge into the world of action on Purim

  • Thus the Aseres Hadibros start with Anoichi Hashem as the first and fundamental principle on which all is founded (Yad Hashem) and the second set of dibros, which concern interpersonal relationships (see Ethical, Ritual, Moral) end in Lo tachmod which is the ultimate goal of Torah, the dedication of the person themselves, their heart and desires (Yad adam.)

 
TorahDikla Palensya