THEMES of Featured Ascent Lights

The Midrash teaches that the Jews merited their first redemption from Egypt in the merit of their distinctive Jewish names, mode of dress, and language.

Nonetheless, our Purim heroes -- “Esther” and “Mordecai” – are known expressly by their Persian names. Therefore, Sefer HaKana found sources for these names in the Torah to show these names’ integral holiness.

A true leader acknowledges his mistake readily. Had King Saul quickly admitted his mistake in not completely exterminating Amalek, he conceivably could have regained favor in G-d's eyes, for a penitent is even more favorable than a completely righteous person.

A central motif of the Megillat Esther is disguise - things not being what they seem to be. Even the name "Esther" in Hebrew connotes hiddenness and invokes the theme of G-d's concealment from us. It is thus appropriate that G-d's name is not mentioned explicitly throughout its text.

The power of teshuva was activated when Esther realized she must be ready to sacrifice her life if necessary. That act, coupled with her call for all Jews in the capital city of Shushan to fast with her for three days and nights, aroused Divine compassion from Above, turning the plans of Haman entirely upside down

On Purim the Jews completed the process begun at Mount Sinai by unanimously accepting the Torah and its laws of their own free will, not under duress, as was the case previously. Two mitzvot of Purim - the sending of food items to another Jew and the giving of food or money to poor Jews - bring about Jewish unity, a prerequisite for the giving of the Torah, as well as its purpose, making a dwelling place for G-d in this earthly domain.

There are five principal types of joy; the joy of Purim includes all types, unlimited by definitions or descriptions, even by the description ‘unlimited joy’. It is beyond joy; it is joy "ad d’lo yada/until you do not know"- interestingly, the initial letters of these three words spell the word yada/‘knowing’.

G‑d is found even in natural, perceivable, explainable events, as is highlighted by all the miracles that the Megillah describes without once mentioning G‑d’s name. Haman’s lottery was not just a detail in the story. It came from G‑d, intended to arouse the Jewish people to a higher state of personal consciousness and to create the holiday of Purim.

Esther's job, her Divine mission, is to never lose sight of the holy tselem, the image of G-d that dwells at the core of all who stand before her.

Just like Esther, the presence of a Jew who is permeated by the love and dignity of Torah and Mitzvos — speaks for itself. The grace of a true Torah Jew, the integrity, the innocence, the discipline, the modesty, the moral code, the sensitivity to all that is noble and dignified in life, the love for man and G‑d which Torah inculcates in the Jew, the majesty of a Shabbat table and the depth of Torah wisdom — all these refute the arguments of Haman more than debate can ever hope to achieve.