To the many tzadikim…
“The Torah is not a mere book written on leather parchment. The Western Wall of our Holy Temple is not just a wall, a pile of stones, nor is Jerusalem like other cities. Neither are the stories of the holy tzaddikim mere stories.”
— Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov, by Yitzhak Buxmaum, 2005
Mordechai & Esther
Chassidic musician and composer, Yaacov Mandel, tells us where his inspiration came from while writing and singing “LeYehudim:”
The words are based upon the great joy that resulted from the events of Megillah Esther and the Purim story. We celebrate this in the month of Adar [in March]. The Jews in Persia went from near execution to the status of royalty because of their dedication and love of Hashem.
Yaacov Mandel mentions the connection between the acceptance of the Torah at Mt Sinai and the Purim salvation story.
On Purim, the Jewish people reaffirmed what they had accepted on Mt Sinai.
On Mt Sinai, it is said, that Hashem placed a mountain over their heads and said, “Accept the Torah or else this will be your grave.” The Jews were nearly coerced into saying, “We will do and we will understand.” In this scenario, they basically had no option other than to accept the Torah.
On Purim, however, when Haman made the decree to eliminate all the Jewish people, G-d forbid, [after it was sealed by King Achashveirosh] the implementation of this decree was only scheduled to take place a year later. So the Jews this time had a free choice during the whole year to accept or not accept. Would they be totally dedicated to Hashem no matter what or not?
They nevertheless voluntarily chose to accept it. By doing this they reaffirmed what they had taken upon themselves originally at Mt Sinai under duress.
So we celebrate with much joy the affirmation and confirmation of their acceptance of the Torah at Mt Sinai, which had previously been made under duress, and now, at the time of Purim, Torah was wholeheartedly accepted with love.
ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר
“For the Jews, there was light and happiness, and joy and honor.”
[Layehudim hayeta orah vsimcha vesason vekar]
From Megillah Esther Chapter 8.16
Copyright Yaacov Mandel
Learn more about Purim by watching this video: https://www.alephbeta.org/purim.
A group of women touring with Chani in Meron, and Tiberius as she relates the many authentic stories of the tzaddikim buried there
Tours with Chani Mandel in Israel
We embark on the paths of the Beisht with our learning about the tzadikim, many of them followers of the Baal Shem Tov.