Revach VaHatzala Yaamod LaYehudim
Unforgettably, Mordechai (4:14) is certain that the Jewish people will somehow be rescued from Esther even if she refuses to appear before Achashverosh. He famously states, “Revach vahatzala yaamod laYehudim mimakom acheir.” Why is Mordechai so confident of our being saved? After all, the odds of overcoming Haman—who enjoys the enthusiastic support of Achashverosh—appeared slim to none.
Avraham Avinu in Mitzrayim
Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu’s experience in Mitzrayim is amazingly similar to the story of his descendants in that country. Avraham Avinu came from Charan to Eretz Yisrael and later left the holy land to visit Mitzrayim, due to a famine. Pharaoh enslaves Sarah Imeinu, and Hashem afflicts the Egyptian king with plagues. In the end, Pharaoh sends Avraham Avinu from Egypt with riches. The parallels to our nation’s experience in Mitzrayim are strikingly similar.
These dramatic parallels lead Ramban (Bereishit 12:9) to his shocking assertion that Avraham Avinu sinned by leaving Eretz Yisrael, despite a dire famine. Ramban believes Hashem punished us with our suffering in Mitzrayim due to Avraham Avinu’s mistake!
However, Radak (Bereishit 12:12) strongly disagrees with Ramban, saying Avraham Avinu models how a tzaddik should act in a crisis. Rashi (Bereishit 12:1) implies his agreement with Radak. How do Rashi and Radak account for the striking similarities between our experience and that Bereishit, perek 12 recounts?
Encouragement in Mitzrayim
We answer with a midrash that states that our ancestors in Mitzrayim had Megillot of sefer Breeishit that reach on Shabbat. Thus, they knew of Sarah Imeinu’s rescue from Pharaoh’s slavery (Rashi to Shemot 4:8 notes this). They also recognized that, “Maaseh avot siman lebanim,” our ancestors’ stories are the blueprint for our future. They recognized this from the parallels between Yosef’s rise from slavery to power and Sarah Imeinu’s rise from slavery to power.
Accordingly, our ancestors recognized that as Sarah Imeinu was released from Pharaoh’s clutches, so would they. Although they did not know precisely how Hashem would free them from Mitzrayim, they knew He would eventually do it.
Similarly, Mordechai knew that just as Sarah and our ancestors were released from enslavement to Pharaoh, we would somehow be redeemed from Haman. Although he did not know how it would happen, he was certain from our past that, “Revach vahatzala yaamod laYehudim mimakom acheir.”
No wonder why many Sephardim emphasize the words, “Revach vahatzala u’lechol Yisrael,” when reciting Kaddish. We echo Mordechai’s certainty of our eventual success.
Pesach and Purim Connections
The Pesach redemption assuring us of our deliverance from Haman accounts for the many parallels between Pesach and Purim.
- Megillah 15a records that Esther’s three-day fast occurred on Pesach. Thus, Haman’s hanging at the second party—the crucial component of our redemption—happened on Pesach! No wonder many Sephardim eat something special on the second day of Pesach to celebrate Haman’s elimination on that day. They even give a siman (sign) for this occurrence, “Vayishbot Haman mimachorat,” (Yehoshua 5:12). This pasuk means that the manna ended the second day of Pesach. It also alludes to Haman’s (note the play on words, “HaMann” and “Haman”) coming to his end on that day.
- Megillah 14a tells us that our Pesach celebration serves as a precedent for our Purim celebration. “Just as we sing when leaving slavery to freedom, how much more so we sing when going from death to life.”
- Megillah 6b teaches that we observe Purim in the second Adar in a Jewish leap year to connect the redemption of Purim and Pesach.
- Rashi to Taanit 29b (s.v. Mishenichnas Adar) explains the joy that begins at the start of Adar, since it is the time of the Purim and Pesach miracles.
Conclusion: Today, We Are Certain of Our Redemption
Many are puzzled by Jews making aliyah to Israel. They wonder why they leave the comfort of North America for the uncertainty of a country threatened with destruction by Iran and surrounded by many committed to ending the Jewish state.
The answer lies in our certainty—like our ancestors in Mitzrayim and Mordechai in Persia—in our eventual redemption. Although we do not know precisely how it will happen, we are certain that just as Haman fell, his latter-day successors in Iran will fall. We also are certain that just as Yishmael did teshuva for hounding Yitzchak (Bereishit 25:9), his descendants will do teshuva and end their harassment of the Bnei Yitzchak.
Rabbi Jachter serves as the rav of Congregation Shaarei Orah, rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a get administrator with the Beth Din of Elizabeth. Rabbi Jachter’s 19 books may be purchased at Amazon and Judaica House.
