PuRiM

In the zemer of Purim- Shoshanas Yaakov, we say “Berosam yachad techeiles Mordechai”. Klal Yisroel rejoiced when they saw the ‘Techeiles- the blue wool’ of Mordechai. The simple meaning is that techeiles is referring to seeing Mordechai wearing the royal garments. What was it about that scene that provoked the feelings of happiness?
You can suggest that the techeiles isn’t referring to the royal garments just rather to the Tzitzis (which have a string of techeiles) that Mordechai was wearing along with the royal garments.
The sin that lead to all the problems was that they ate from Achashvarosh’s party and that they bowed down to the cross. They really didn’t want to go to the party or bow to the cross, but political obligations made it necessary to join. Mordechai didn’t cave in to the political pressure and tried to convince Klal Yisroel not to go to the party. When they saw Mordechai with all the royal glory and fame- being second to the king, still wearing techeiles- his Tzitzis, they realized what their mistake was. That Mordechai was right and that there was no need to sacrifice their mitzvah observance under any amount of pressure. This was a cause for an extra celebration.
Have a frielechin Purim

Shabbos Zachor

In this weeks Haftorah we read the story of King Shaul and his failings in the war against Amalek. When the king of Amalek, Agog- who Shaul failed to kill was brought before Shmuel to be killed the posuk says he was brought “madanos” (Shmuel1 15;32) translated by most, as chained. There is another meaning to the word “madanos” that comes from the word ‘edan’- pleasure or cheerful. Why is that that the Navi used such a word that can be interpreted in two diverse ways?
The philosophy of Amalek is that there was a creator to the universe but all he did was create the world and program it for eternity. His outlook of G-d is that great that he left no room for humans to change or make a difference in this world. The flip side of this is that he wasn’t responsible for any of his deeds and being so was totally free to do as he pleased. While the Torah way is that we all have bechira- free will. Every action we do, can and does effect the universe on a whole. We believe that we can change Hashem and his interaction in this world, by every mitzvah we do we bring Hashem closer and more welcome in his world. Thus we are responsible for all our actions.
When Agog came before Shmuel he showed that he was, at the same time ‘chained’ by a higher force that all his actions were preordained. At the same time his life was all ‘cheerful’ for he was free to do what he pleased.
Taken from Pachad Yitzchok.

Parshas Sheqalim

The Medrish says that the giving of the Machtzis Ha’sheqal was an atonement for the sin of the golden calf.
At the giving of the Torah Hashem threatened Klal Yisroel if they won’t accept the Torah they will be buried under the mountain. The question is asked: Klal Yisroel had said naaseh vnishma, what was the need of Hashem forcing the nation to accept the Torah? One of the answers that is given, is that Klal Yisroel accepted Torah shel bekesav- the written Torah, but were reluctant- and thus had to be forced- to accept Torah shel bal peh- the oral Torah. The Bobover Rebbi explains that the reluctance to accept the oral Torah is what led to the sin of the eigal. When Klal Yisroel saw that Moshe was in heaven for forty days they got scared that he won’t return. Their fear was based that they knew Moshe was the one that brought down the oral Torah but now that he was gone they where scared that that was the end of the process of the Written Torah, and all that was left for them was the Oral Torah which they weren’t so excited to accept and work on. It was this that led them to the grave mistake of the eigal. The atonement was that when they gave a Half Sheqal, they showed Hashem that they were willing to give and toil with, their half of Torah- Torah shel baal peh.
The Oral Torah which was forced upon us at Har Sinai was fully accepted by Klal Yisroel after the miracle of Purim. Klal Yisroel expressing their gratitude to Hashem over the miracle took upon themselves the learning of Torah shel baal peh. Thus leading into the period of the Anshe Kenesses Hagdolah- The Men of the Great Assembly- who were the ones that started the Mishna and Torah shel baal peh (see the 1st mishna in Avos). That is why we read Parshas Sheqalem before Purim for the miracle of Purim is when we expressed our willingness to give Hashem our portion of the Torah- the Oral Torah.