Fancy Dress

Rabbi Benzion Milecki - Shabbat Zahor 5767

On the surface, the Megillah is the tale of the palace intrigues of the Royal Harem of Persia some 2,500 years ago. A quaint story of power and sex with anti-Semitism mixed in to boot.

Of course, had it only been this, the festival of Purim would have hardly lasted the distance of our long and checkered history.

What makes it special is that it is the quintessential tale of Jewish existence. Jews prosper in a country, become its leading businessmen and political advisers, arouse the jealousy of money or power-seekers who feel they have been overlooked - and are persecuted, murdered or expelled. They then arise another day - until the story once more repeats itself.

However there is another layer to the story as well - and this too is repeated in almost every generation. There are always a number of Jews, sometimes even the majority, who believe that by hiding their identity, by pretending to be better gentiles than the gentiles, they will avoid the wrath of the anti-Semites.

But of course, quite the opposite occurs. The anti-Semite seeing the Jew "pretend" to be a gentile becomes even angrier. The Jew is now invading "his" turf!

But it is not only the gentiles who become angry. G-d too says, "Two can play this game!" He too begins concealing Himself - pretending He isn't there - and leaving us to our own devices. This is why G-d's Name is not mentioned in the Megillah. We pretended we were not Jewish - G-d pretended He didn't exist.

It was only after the Jews began identifying fully as Jews, and indeed were so proud of who they were that the gentiles began to convert to Judaism, that salvation came. It then became retrospectively obvious that all the political machinations of the Palace were His work. He really was there all the time.

This explains the custom of fancy-dress on Purim. Someone may be dressed up, but we know who he really is. He cannot really fool anyone. Nor can a Jew. There is no point to the pretence, so come out of the shadows and stand tall and proudly as a Jew.

When the Jew reveals what he wished to conceal, G-d too reveals what He had concealed, and openly showers us with His love and compassion.

Megilat Esther means the Scroll of Esther - but concealed within its name there is something deeper, more meaningful. Megillah comes from the Hebrew word "Reveal" and Esther derives from the Hebrew word "concealment". So Megilat Esther can also mean, "Revealing he Hidden".

This Purim, let us decide to reveal our Jewish essence, each on his or her own level, so that G-d A-lmighty too will reveal His inner essence.

Ultimately, that is what Personal and Global redemption are all about.