Purim: and that which is hidden

1. Purim: and that which is hidden Purim is often criticized as being a "Jewish Halloween". This is because it is a tradition that people dress up in costumes for the festival of Purim. While many people teach that this was a pagan tradition adopted by Jews, We will see it a little different today. As we go to Esther Chapter 2

2. 1 After these things, when the anger of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. • The King had become angry in chapter 1, because his bride refused to come to the feast which he had prepared. He desired to show his bride to the other people (nations), but she would not come. She planned her own banquet ("holiday") in the King's palace. • 2 Then said the king's servants who ministered to him, Let young virgins of good presence be sought for the king;

3. 3 And let the king appoint officials in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the young virgins of good presence to Shushan the capital, to the harem, to the custody of Hege, the king's eunuch, keeper of the women; and let their ointments be given them; • The king appointed people to GATHER TOGETHER young virgins (those who had not defiled themselves), to the capital of the kingdom. There, they would be under the custody of Hege. The name Hege means "that which stirs and moves" and "that which creates growth". • 4 And let the girl which pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the matter pleased the king; and he did so.

4. 5 There was a Jewish man in Shushan the capital, and his name was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimming, son of Kish, a Benjamite. • 6 Who had been exiled from Jerusalem among the captives exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. • Mordechai was the son of Ya'eir ("Jair" - that which illuminates or brings Light). Mordechai had been exiled from Jerusalem along with the southern kingdom of Judah. Remember that Benjamin was the only tribe left other than Judah. The other ten were taken by the Assyrians.

5. 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was beautiful and of good presence; and, when her father and her mother died, Mordecai adopted her as a daughter. • Her name was Hadassah, which means "that which was diffused, such as light, wind" and "that which was kept in secret". This name also refers to the Myrtle plant, which is one of the Four Species of Sukkot. • Hadassah is also known as "Esther". Esther had lost her parents. The word for 'parent' in Hebrew is Horah, and comes from the same shoresh (root-verb) as Torah.

6. 8 So it came to pass, when the king's command and his decree were heard, and when many girls were gathered together in Shushan the capital, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also to the king's palace, to the custody of Hegai, guardian of the women. So it was that when people finally heard the words of the King, the young women were gathered. • 9 And the girl pleased him, and she won his favor; and he quickly gave her ointments, and her appointed portions, and seven maids, chosen to be to given her, from the king's palace; and he advanced her and her maids to the best place in the harem. • The king favored Esther, so he gave her ointments (for healing) and HER APPOINTED PORTIONS (Torah portions);

7. 10 Esther had not declared her people nor her country; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell. • 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the harem, to know how Esther was, and what was done to her. • 12 And when every maid's turn had come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, namely six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet perfumes, and with other ointments for women;

8. 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

9. 15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his daughter, came to go to the king, she asked for nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the sight of all those who looked upon her. • 16 So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth for women; • 17 And the king loved Esther above all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

10. Rosh Khodesh Tevet (the beginning of the month of Tevet) occurs during the celebration of Khanukkah. • Khanukkah is the time of rededicating the Temple and lighting the Menorah within. It is during this time that Esther (that which was hidden, disguised, or veiled) was taken into the Palace to be with the King as if consummating a marriage. Because Esther asked for nothing other than what her teacher (Torah teacher) advised.

11. 18 Then the king made a great banquet for all his princes and his servants, it was Esther's feast; and he granted a remission of taxes to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. • 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. • 20 Esther had not yet told her country nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did the command of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him.

12. The lost tribes of Yoseph, which have been veiled in darkness, are often referred to as "lost". Yet they are a nation of people that has been preserved. We do not see it because of the disguise they wear. • Remember Yoseph stood right before his brothers, but they did not recognize him because he was clothed in Egyptian garments. Today, the tribes of Yoseph still retain Israelite souls, yet their outer appearance has become a coat of many colors. They have adorned themselves with the "clothes of the • Egyptians". ( world )

13. Yoseph's other son was Manashe, meaning "causing to forget". Yoseph named him Menashe because the birth of his son and marriage to his Egyptian bride had caused him to forget his Israelite identity. Today, the sons of Yoseph have forgotten their Israelite identity also. Those tribes are assimilated into their host nations and because of their “ pride” that has caused them to forget that they have Israelite souls within them. They have forgotten their fathers (Avraham, Ytzkhak, and Ya'akov) and their mothers.They are orphans just as Yoseph and Esther were. They have clothed themselves in Egyptian garments and taken on their practices.

14. For this reason, we dress in costumes for Purim. It is not to frighten away evil spirits or any such nonsense like that. It is to serve as a reminder to us that when we take upon the rituals of our host nations, we assimilate into those people and become unrecognizable to our brothers- this perpetuates the current exile. Assimilation is equivalent to national suicide. • The disguising of the lost tribes is seen within the name of Yoseph's son (Ephrayim). • The first three letters of Ephrayim (Aleph, Pey, • Reysh ) spell the word Apher, which means "mask" or "disguise"

15. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who guarded the door, were angry, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. • 22 And the matter was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king of it in Mordecai's name. • 23 And when inquiries were made of the matter, it was found out; Therefore they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.

16. There will soon come a time when Yoseph will remove his Egyptian costume. • At that time, his brothers will recognize him. The Megillat Esther, which is read in synagogues every year during Purim tells us more about this story. • ******************************************

17. Mordechai was the son of Ya'eir ("Jair" - that which illuminates or brings Light). • The first three letters of Ephrayim (Aleph, Pey, • Reysh ) spell the word Apher, which means "mask" or "disguise" • The name Hegeh means "that which stirs and moves" and "that which creates growth". • So the Light will come to those in disguise and cause growth

18. Sovereign Achash Rosh is a type for Yahweh • Mordecai Mordekay is a type for the Messiah • Esther -- Hadassah is a type of the Bride