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Misplaced Trust

Why was annihilation decreed upon the Jews of that generation [of the Purim story]? Because they enjoyed the feast of that wicked one Achashverosh 

Megillah 12:a

Many Talmudic commentators struggle to explain the disproportionate decree -- complete annihilation -- for a sin as innocent as "enjoying the feast of that wicked one."

But Haman's decree is a natural consequence of ordinary history and politics, not Divine retribution. The Midrash likens the survival of the Jewish people amidst the surrounding nations to a sheep encircled by seventy wolves. Only continuous Divine intervention keeps them alive. Left to the whim of kings, czars, and politicians, the fate of the Jew is precarious.

To remain enveloped within G-d's protective embrace, we must acknowledge it. If we deny G-d's hand in our survival, we are left to contend with the natural facts of a harsh and inhospitable world.

This is not to say that we are to abandon any attempt to work within political reality. To the contrary, G-d desires that we meet the world on its terms to secure our survival. The mistake is in thinking that our self-determination and political efforts are the sole means of our survival. They only cloak the true "body" of our security: G-d's providence.

The Jews of the Persian Empire made this mistake. In the Talmud's words, they "enjoyed the privilege of being invited to the royal feast and of being served kosher food and wine by the king's staff. The exiled Jew felt included. He no longer needed G-d for his survival.

Putting their faith in mortals, the Jews denied their supernatural status as a nation whose very survival defies the laws of history. Abandoning this knowledge. they were now vulnerable to the decrees of the mortal Achashverosh.

-- Megillat Esther with Commentary

Written in Stone

The Tablets were G-d’s handiwork and the script was G-d’s script, engraved on the tablets. 

Ex. 32:16

Something that is written can be erased or scraped off. When it is engraved, however, there is no way of separating the writing from the stone. The medium has become one with the message. This teaches us two things: Firstly, when we study the Torah, we should be so lost in it that all that exists for us is the Torah itself; the medium, the message, and the recipient of the message all merge to become one.

Secondly, the Torah is part of us; once G-d restored the tablets that Moses shattered, we can never completely lose touch with the Torah. The sands of time may cover the engraving, or the temptations of the world may make it hard to decipher; yet our connection can never be revoked.

-- Daily Wisdom Volume 3