Amalek came after Klal Yisroel came to “Refidim” (וַיַחֲנוּ בִּרְּ פִּידִּ ים) which means that the reason we suffered from Amalek is: שֶ רָ פוּ יְּ דֵּ יהֶ ם מִּ ן הַ תוֹרָה we became weak (“Rafu”) in our learning Torah. People who don’t learn are open to all the Hevel and evil of Olam HaZeh, and Amalek has a: מָ קוֹם place by them, Rachmana Litzlan. Simcha means Yom Tov, i.e., we don’t need Seudas Achashverosh which is Treife fun; we have a beautiful וְּשָמַחְּתָ בְּחַגֶך and the Simchas Bais HaSho'eva, about which Chazal say: כָל מִּי שֶלֹא רָאָה שִּמְּחַת בֵּית הַשוֹאֵּבָה, לֹא רָאָה שִּמְּחָה מִּיָמָיו Whoever hasn’t experienced the Simchas Bais HaSho'eva, has never experienced true Simcha.
And it’s known how the cruel Amaleikim were against Bris Mila (וַיְּזַנֵּּב בְּך, ופי' רש"י מַ כַ ת זָ נָ ב, חוֹתֵּ ךְ מִּ ילוֹת וְּ זוֹרֵּ ק כְּ לַ פֵּ י מַ עֲ לָ ה) and people who are careful with Shmiras HaYesod have a happier life, and without the danger of Amalek. וִּיקָר means respect. This is a word used throughout the Megila, since Achashverosh and Haman were both Kavod-crazy.
- בְּהַרְּ אֹתוֹ אֶת עשֶר כְּבוֹד מַלְּכוּתוֹ וְּאֶת י ק ר תִּפְּאֶרֶת גְּדוֹלָתוֹ
- וְּכָל הַנָּ שִּ ים יִּתְּנוּ י ק ר לְּבַעְּלֵּיהֶן
- כָכָה יֵּעָשֶה לָאִּיש אֲשֶר הַמֶלֶךְ חָפֵּץ בִּ יק רוֹ
- וַיֹאמֶר הָמָן בְּלִּבוֹ לְּמִּי יַחְּפֹץ הַמֶלֶךְ לַעֲשוֹת י ק ר יוֹתֵּר מִּמֶנִּּי
Achashverosh killed Vashti, and Haman tried to kill Mordechai, only because they didn’t get Kavod from them. Achashverosh’s whole gigantic Seuda was only for Kavod; i.e., to be a show off. And Haman needed the whole world bowing down to him, because he was obsessed with his love for Kavod.
Haman wanted to wear the king’s crown, because that’s the peak of Kavod: אֲשֶר הַמֶלֶךְ חָפֵּץ בִּיקָרוֹ. Tefilin Shel Rosh is the Kavod of every Yid, and it is called: תִּפְּאֶרֶת (glory). Chazal say about Tefilin Shel Rosh: וְּרָאוּ כָל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כִּי שֵּם ה' נִּקְּרָא עָלֶיך וְּיָרְּ אוּ מִּמֶךָ the nations of the world will see that the name of Hashem is upon you, and they will fear you, this refers to the Tefilin Shel Rosh. So a Yid gets all the “fun” in a true way. When we say: עוֹטֵּר יִּשְֹּ רָאֵּל בְּתִּפְּאָרָה Who crowns Yisroel with glory, we kiss the Tefilin Shel Rosh. The hats of Cohanim are called: פַאֲרֵּי הַמִּגְּבָעֹת the hats of “Pe’er” (similar to “Tiferes”). The head is the glory of every human. This is because the head is the: מִּ שְּ כַ ן sanctuary of the Sechel, the crown of a human. Vashti was told to come with the crown on her head but she refused. It was Min HaShamayim, since she wasn’t worthy for a crown, since she didn’t use her Sechel. And indeed, a tail fit her (Gemara) since she was animalistic; i.e., she was heavily involved in Ta'avos and causing others to sin.
She was replaced by Esther, on whom the Passuk says: וַיָשֶם כֶתֶר מַלְּכוּת בְּרֹאשָהּ Achashveirosh put a crown on her head. Don’t we already know that she became queen? Why does it need to mention the crown on her head? Answer: To tell us that she was fit for true Malchus, since she used her head. Tefilin is the total opposite of Ta'avos. They cannot be worn without pure thoughts, and you may not be: מֵּ סִּ יחַ דַ עַ ת distract while wearing them. The Rambam says that a person who is wearing Tefilin becomes an Anav and Yarei Shamayim, he does not get drawn into empty chatter or improper thoughts; and all he thinks about is related to Emes and Tzedek. Tefilin is the Tikkun of: שֶנֶּה נוּ מִּסְּעוּדָתוֹ שֶל אוֹתוֹ רָשָע the fake pleasure of Seudas Achashverosh. ו נִּמ צ א ח ן ו ש כ ל טוֹב ב ע ינ י אֱל קִּים ו א ד ם We shall find Chen and Sechel Tov in the eyes of Hashem and Man!
