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Adaptation by David Rothschild of a discourse on Purim 5713/1953
Therefore, they called these days 'Purim' from the
word 'pur'.
(Esther 9:26)
"Pur" is the Persian word for lottery. (Ibn
Ezra on the above verse) It is necessary to understand what the meaning of "lot"
is. For the verse implies that it is the central miracle of Purim, since the
entire miracle is named after this word.
The Zohar states, " Yom Kippur is similar to Purim". (Tikunei
Zohar p. 57b) Because Yom Kippur is described as being only similar to
Purim, it follows that Purim is on a higher level than Yom Kippur.
Purim and Yom Kippur are both associated with
lotteries. The Talmud relates, "On Yom Kippur there were two goats, identical in
appearance, stature and monetary value." (Yoma 62a) A lottery determined
which goat would be sacrificed and which one would be sent into the wilderness.
Consequently, the repentance of Yom Kippur, in all its magnitude, was contingent
on a lottery.  | | " A lottery is what brought about the miracle of Purim..." | | |
The Day of Atonement lottery is set forth in
Leviticus. "From the congregation of Israel he shall take two he-goats for a sin
offering". (Lev. 16:5) "Aaron shall cast lots upon the two he-goats: one lot
'for G-d' and one lot for 'Azazel' (a particular mountain precipice in
the desert)." (Ibid. 16:6) The word "Azazel" is a construct of two Hebrew
words "az" and "el". "Az" means "difficult"; "El"
translates as "strong". (Siftei Chochamim on the above verse)
Leviticus continues, "Aaron shall bring near the
he-goat designated by lot for G-d and sacrifice it as a sin offering. And the
he-goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left alive before G-d to
provide atonement, by sending it to Azazel, the wilderness." (Lev.
16:8-10)
The Mishna relates how the lottery was
performed. "Two identical sin-offering goats were brought before the High Priest
inside the Temple. One goat was positioned facing the priest's right side; the
other goat was placed opposite his left side. A wooden box containing two wooden
lots was placed before the High Priest. On one of the lots was written 'to G-d'.
Upon the second was inscribed 'To Azazel'. (Mishna Yoma 3:9)
"After shaking the box to mix up the lots, the High
Priest reached inside and removed them, one in each hand. The lot that was taken
by his right hand was placed on the goat opposite his right side. And the lot
that was grasped in his left hand was put on the left-sided goat. (Ibid. 4:1)
"The High Priest then tied a red cord onto the head of
the goat chosen to be sent to Azazel. Then he lashed a gold band around
the neck of the goat selected for sacrifice." (Ibid. 4:2)
A lottery figures prominently in the Purim story as
well: a lottery is what brought about the miracle of Purim. Queen Esther records
in the Megilla, "In the first month, the month of Nissan, in the twelfth year of
King Ahasuerus, pur, that is a lot, was cast in the presence of Haman
from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the
month of Adar." (Esther 3:7) | | " Haman didn't know that Moses was also born on the seventh of Adar..." | | |
[First Haman had a lottery performed to ascertain the
month he would find success. Then a second lottery was made to determine the
winning month's fortuitous day. ( Rashi on the above verse)]
Haman knew that Moses, the redeemer of the Jews, had
passed away on the seventh day of the month of Adar. So when the lottery fell on
the seventh of Adar, Haman rejoiced. But Haman didn't know that Moses was also
born on the seventh of Adar! (Yoma 13b) The very fact that the
lottery fell on the month of Moses' birth was in itself the principal miracle.
Lotteries operate on a plane which is higher than
reason and understanding. "Lots are cast in secret; their judgment is from G-d."
(Proverbs 16:33) In respect to lotteries, one doesn't rely on reason or will.
Rather he expects the outcome to be decided solely by the lottery. Lotteries are
above intelligence and will; they reach the Master of Will. [The workings of a
lottery are unperceived by man. Although people believe lotteries are left to
chance, in truth the outcome isn't accidental. Rather, the Providence of G-d
guides it. ( Malbim on the above verse)] | | " On Purim...the lottery itself brings about the miracle..." | | |
Although Yom Kippur and Purim are both dependent on
the result of lotteries, nevertheless Purim is loftier than Yom Kippur. This is
because on Yom Kippur atonement is contingent on repentance. But on Purim,
additional factors aren't necessary. The lottery itself brings about the
miracle.
There exists, however, a second correlation that
equates Yom Kippur and Purim. Both holidays are above G-d's name Havayah.
On Yom Kippur repentance arouses the innermost aspect of G-d. The Zohar
describes this level as G-d's Essence, which is prior to - that is above - the
revelation present in His four-letter Name. (Zohar III, chapter 7; Likutei
Torah, page 28:2)
As King David implored, "I seek Your Inwardness."
(Psalms 27:8) The Hebrew word for "inwardness" is derived form the same
two-letter root as the word for "preceding". G-d's name Havayah is the
revealed source of the 613 Commandments. As the verse intimates, "This is my
Name eternally, and this is my remembrance from generation to generation." (Ex.
3:15) The numerical value of "my Name" (in Hebrew,"sh'mi") is 350. When
added to the first two letters of G-d's name - yud and hei - the
tally comes to 365. This equals the number of Torah prohibitions. | | " When a positive commandment isn't observed...then the mitzvah's source in the letters of G-d's Name becomes blemished..." | | |
"My remembrance" (in Hebrew, "zichri") equals
237. Added to the last two letters of the name Havayah - vav and
hei - the number 248 is reached. These are the 248 positive commandments
of the Torah.
When a positive commandment isn't observed or a
negative commandment violated, then the mitzvah's source in the letters of G-d's
Name becomes blemished. On Yom Kippur, repentance arouses G-d's Mercy, manifest
in the inner aspect of the sefira of keter, which is above the
name Havayah.
G-d's Name commences with the letter yud -
symbolizing the sefira of chochma. From within the inner
aspect of keter shines forth the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Since they
originate from a place, which is higher than the source of Torah and mitzvot,
the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy have the power to correct defects in the Name.
Hence Yom Kippur is before - or above - G-d's Name.
Purim is also higher than G-d's Name. That's the
reason G-d's name Havayah doesn't appear even once in the entire Book of
Esther.
[The upper point of the Hebrew letter yud (the
first letter of the name Havayah) corresponds to the outer dimension of
the sefira of keter. Allegorized as a human skull, this aspect of
keter serves as G-d's faculty of Will. Will, then, is the concealed
source of mitzvot. Likened to 613 pathways embedded in the skull, the mitzvot
are expressions of G-d's Will. (Zohar, Idra Rabba, p. 129) King
David hints, "All G-d's way" (Psalms 25:10) and "I will see your ways" (Ibid.
119:15). The numerical value of the word "keter" is 620. This hints that
Will is the source of the 613 Torah commandments plus the seven rabbinical
injunctions.]
On Purim, one reaches a level above Intelligence and
Will, until connecting with the Master of Will Himself.
Please continue on to
Mute Monarch for the continuation of this article.
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