Q:
Yaakov Avinu dealt with Eisav by sending him gift in order to appease him. Why in the time of Purim didn’t we try to do our hishtadlus by trying to bribe Achashveirosh?
A:
Achashveirosh was so wealthy that you couldn’t bribe him. Haman offered him עשרת אלפים ככר כסף – Ten thousand silver talents. Now a kikar is a talent, and a talent is a big amount of silver. Ten thousand heavy talents! And Achashveirosh said: הכסף נתון לך – You take it. They couldn’t bribe Achashveirosh – he was too wealthy.
TAPE # E-3
Q:
So why didn’t they follow the lesson of Yaakov and try to escape to another country?
A:
In the ancient times you couldn’t just escape. Nobody was able to move around freely the way you imagine today. Every country had its ruler.
Today in America, it’s somewhat easier. You just get into a car and you travel. But in those days you couldn’t just make a fast escape from the country. And therefore, they were caught in a trap with no way out.
TAPE # E-3
Q:
How are we really supposed to see the neis of Purim if it was a neis nistar that was hidden in the natural events?
A:
The answer is that sometimes a thing can be so startling that you just can’t hide it. The American government is carrying out nuclear tests – nuclear explosions – and they’re trying to hide it, but the scientists who have the proper instruments know what’s going on, and they can tell you the details where it’s going on and when. And your mind is your instrument. With a little bit of thought, you see the hand of Hashem.
You can’t hide certain things. And when Haman, who was the king’s favorite, is now not only not a favorite, but he’s wiped out – and not only that, but the one who took his place was the least likely person, so even the biggest dumbbell could guess Who is to blame for all this. יושב בשמים ישחק – “The One who dwells in heaven is laughing.” Hakodosh Boruch Hu was playing the joke and everybody could see it.
And therefore וראו אפסי ארץ את ישועת אלוקינו – “All the ends of the world saw that it was a salvation from Hashem.” It was very clear to everyone. Only that if you don’t put your mind to it, you don’t see anything and you’ll remain the same person you were last Purim, and the year before that, and the year before that. But the wise person will use his Purim to see how Hashem is doing everything for the Am Yisroel, and he’ll fall in love with Hashem. Because the person who is the same person on the day after Purim as he was the day before Purim, has wasted a tremendous opportunity.
TAPE # 110
