The Shulchan Aruch (690:6) writes that one has an obligation to read the Megillah in its proper order. This is to say that even if one reads the entire Megillah and “gets” the story, it does not suffice. One must read it from begging to end in that order. In this article we shall delve into the significance of this law. As mentioned in previous articles, behind every word of our sages there is a hidden depth.
In addition it is only natural to ask why did our sages add the holiday of Purim, we have Pesach and Succot that commemorate miracles what is the need for another holiday?
The first of the Ten Commandments is 20:2 “I am Hashem your G-d that took you out of the land of Egypt”
Seemingly there is a bigger accomplishment on Gods resume ..the creation of the world. Why did the verse not recite the proper term which should have been I am Hashem your God that created the world”. Obviously, in opposition to what the Torah believes there is a train of thought that the Almighty created the world and then let it go on its course unguarded. This verse is coming to exclude us from that mistaken idea. The Torah is letting us know that not only did God create the world but He continues to maintain it. As was so clear in Egypt, the Almighty altered the rules of nature to fit His will- giving the clear message that He is still in charge.
If we look at the miracles that occurred in Purim we shall see a story line that does not seem to scream out to us the hand of the Almighty. The Queen’s relative, Mordechai, pulls some strings and saves the Jewish People. It is only when one reads the entire story at once, one sees the story line from beginning to end does one realize that from the onset it was all in the hands of the Almighty. The timing of the party, the rise of Haman and his fall, the secret that Queens Ester held the whole time etc. The miracle of Purim is taking the verse of the ten commandments a step further. Not only do we know that the Almighty created the world and is watching but he maintains His close ruler-ship through nature- that is essentially the message of Purim. The other holidays we saw the Almighty do overt miracles, change water into blood, split the sea etc. One might say that was in the days of old when there was Moshe around to help rule the show. This time around it looked to be natural, but that was precisely the wish of the Almighty. We ingrain the concept that nature is merely a vehicle that is used by the Almighty to do His will.
When the Halacha forbids us to read the Megiallah out of order it is telling us, that in order to truly appreciate life and the holiday of Purim we need to get need to see everything from beginning to end. |Skipping around and not seeing the entire picture will not cut it in this instance.
