Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher, Dean of Students and Senior Lecturer at Diaspora Yeshiva, is not only a popular speaker and teacher, but also a dynamic thinker and writer. A student of Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky and Harav Gedalia Schorr, Rabbi Sprecher was granted smicha (rabbinical ordination) by Torah Vodaath Yeshiva. Prior to his current position, Rabbi Sprecher was a professor of Judaic studies at Touro College in New York. In addition to his duties at Diaspora Yeshiva, Rabbi Sprecher writes a regular column on various Judaic topics in the Jewish Press, and lectures regularly at the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem.
Purim: A ReJEWvenation of the Torah
Published: Thursday, March 6, 2014 11:17:26 AM
Number of views: 2076

לע"נ אמי מורתי רבקה בת יצחק ז"ל לשלושים ימים לפטירתה

On Purim, as on Chanukkah, we recite Al Hanisim. In this thanksgiving prayer, the stories of the miracles of both Festivals are related in a short and concise synopsis. 


However, there is an obvious difference. In the Al Hanisim of Chanukkah there is a finale, "Afterwards your sons came to Your House, they cleansed Your Sanctuary, purified Your Place of Holiness and lit lights in Your Holy Courts, and instituted these eight days of Chanukkah for giving thanks and praise to Your Great Name." In contrast, the Al Hanisim of Purim concludes abruptly. "You in Your Abundant Compassion voided Haman's plan and caused that which he sought to do to recoil on his own head, and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows."

What kind of an ending is this? Where is the rest of the story? Why not tell us that the Festival of Purim was instituted with the Megillah, Mishloach Manot, gifts to the poor and the Purim Feast? Why was this part of the story omitted? Is it because the story of Purim is never ending?

Was Haman only one episode in the ceaseless hatred of the Jews throughout our tragic history?

Though the history of our people is full of Hamans, our Rabbis would not indicate that in the Al Hanisim and spoil the joyous celebration of the Purim Festival. If so, why is there no uplifting conclusion to the Al Hanisim prayer of Purim?

The answer is because the central point of the story of Purim was "Kiymu V'Kiblu" that the Jews again accepted the Torah unlike at Mount Sinai by coercion, but willingly and with love. The main outcome of the Purim story was the rededication to the Torah over and above the merrymaking.

In fact, the joy and celebration of Purim is in honor of our renewed commitment to the Torah, when we became rejuvenated as Jews.

Therefore, the Megillah Scroll is to be written on parchment and requires

Sirtut, etched lines. Sirtut denotes permanency of the writing forever. The words of the Megillah are called, "DIvrei Shalom V'Emet" – "Words of Peace and Truth". Thus Tractate Megillah 16 states that etched lines are required in the Megillah so that they be words of truth as are the words of the Torah, "K'Amita shel Torah", "like the truth of the Torah". Thus, the Talmud equates the eternal message of the Megillah with that of the Sefer Torah. Therefore, the Megillah concludes, "these days Purim will never cease from among the Jews."

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