The Torah describes the appearance of the luchos as, mi’zeh umi’zeh hem kesuvim - tablets inscribed from both their sides. Seemingly, all that was needed was for the words of the Aseres Hadibros to be read on the luchos. Why was it important that they were inscribed from both sides?
When Esther Hamalka heard of Mordechai’s public mourning, she sent a messenger “lada'as mah zeh v'al mah zeh," to find out what had happened, and why it had happened. The Gemara (Megilla 15) expounds this phrase as referring to a deeper conversation. Esther was seeking the cause of the decree, and she wondered if Klal Yisroel were being punished for transgressing what is written in the five Chumashim, were it says mi’zeh umi’zeh hem kesuvim.
Once again, we see here that the method of inscribing the luchos seems to have greater significance. What is the connection between the ksiva on the luchos and the decree in Shushan?
The Gemara (Megila 12) cites an opinion that the terrible decree of Haman was because the Yidden had sinned by benefiting from Achashveirosh’s party. However, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai argued that only the inhabitants of Shushan should be punished for this, while the decree affected Yidden all over the kingdom? Therefore, he suggested that they were punished for bowing down to the statue erected by Nevuchadnetzar. Despite the severity of this sin, they merited miraculous salvation, because they only bowed externally, but they did not internally intend to rebel against Hashem. Therefore, Hashem, too, brought a decree that made it seem like He abandoned them, while He never really planned to annihilate them.
Interestingly, the medrash seems to agree with the first reason, that the Yidden were punished for disobeying Mordechai and going to the feast. The Meforshim raise many more questions on this pshat. Firstly, they did not deserve death for eating non-kosher food! Furthermore, the medrash says that the food was kosher, but it was bishul akum, it was forbidden to eat it since it was cooked by non-Jews. For this minor transgression of an issur m’dirabanan they deserved to be wiped out?!
The Be’er Yosef answers these questions by delving deeper into the motivations of these people. In their own homes, they ate kosher food. Why did they feel justified in ignoring Mordechai and partake of the feast?
He suggests that the Yidden of that era has a mistaken approach to life in galus. They thought that it was proper to allow for certain leniencies in fulfilling mitzvos, to minimize the differences between us and the nations we live with. In this way, they hoped to mitigate the hatred of the non-Jews and create more favorable living conditions.
This mindset brought them to Achashveirosh’s party. “Imagine,” they said, “the king’s reaction when he finds out that the Jews boycotted his celebration. He will be furious, and it will only reinforce his impression that we are a foreign people who cannot be trusted.” Of course, in their own homes, they were particular about kosher food. However, they felt that they needed to make an exception and attend the king’s feast.
Similarly, anyone who did not bow down to Nevuchadnetzar’s image placed himself in grave danger. They rationalized that they should bow down, as long as they did not recognize and serve the idol in their hearts.
What was their error? They failed to realize that the Torah preceded Creation, and thus can never be adapted to the realities of current events. The Torah can never and will never change. All its words apply in every place and every time, equally.
For the same reason, we cannot rationalize our transgressions by focusing solely on our motivations. The ends do not justify the means. Just because our hearts remain with Hashem does not allow us to violate his commandments, even when the times seem to warrant it.
This is the lesson of the luchos. Firstly, it was engraved, not written. It is always possible to erase something written, but if it is carved into the material, the imprint remains forever. Furthermore, the letters mem and samech, which are completely separated from the rest of the material, were miraculously suspended in space. This hints to us that the Torah remains true and relevant, even when we cannot understand it, even when it seems so obvious to us that specific circumstances call for some allowances.
And it was carved mi’zeh umi’zeh, from both sides, to remind us that the Torah is true through and through, from all angles, and can never be altered. This also hints that we need to be loyal through and through, inside and out. We cannot suffice with our noble intentions, if we are not heeding his commands.
This was Esther’s observation. She heard of the decree, and she connected it to the Yidden’s transgressions. She realized that they had forgotten the message of the luchos, written on both sides, reminding us to be loyal in all situations, both in thoughts and deeds. Instead, they decided to commit these transgressions, to keep the peace with their gentile rulers.
Klal Yisroel merited their salvation when they returned to Hashem with their full hearts, and kimu v’kiblu, they reaccepted the Torah, resolving to keep it fully, even if galus.
