The Medrash tells us that Haman aroused strong accusations in Shomayim against Klal Yisroel (Esther Rabbah 7:14).
The Megillah states: ובמלואת הימים האלה עשה המלך לכל העם הנמצאים בשושן הבירה למגדול ועד קטן משתה שבעת ימים בחצר גנת ביתן המלך - “And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the capital, great and small alike, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace” (Esther 1:5).
The word העם, the people, mentioned in the pasuk refers to Klal Yisroel. We know that the Jews are referred to as עם, as the Torah states: אשריך ישראל מי כמוך עם נושע ב ה' מגן עזרך – “Fortunate are you, O Yisroel: Who is like you! O people delivered by Hashem, the Shield of your help” (Devorim 33:29).
Haman educated Achashveirosh that the G-d of the Jews despises immorality and promiscuity. He advised him to throw a party for the Jews of Shushan, and to provide them with ample food, drink, and harlots. Entice the Jews and get them to sin. Give them whatever they want: לעשות כרצון איש ואיש, according to each man’s pleasure (Esther 1:8).
Mordechai saw what was being planned and decreed that no Jew may participate in Achashveirosh’s party. He warned that the king’s intention was to induce Klal Yisroel to sin. The outcome would be a kitrug against Klal Yisroel and would result in severe and swift judgement against the Jews.
Tragically, eighteen thousand five hundred Jews did not listen, and they willingly enjoyed themselves at the party. They ate, drank, became inebriated, and succumbed to sin.
The Sotan stood before Hashem, and presented the facts as described. He asked Hashem how long he was willing to put up with such disregard for his Torah and mitzvos. He advised Hashem to destroy the Jewish nation, since they sinned and did not do teshuvah.
Hashem responded, “What will be with the Torah?”
The Sotan advised Hashem that the Torah will remain in the heavens, and no longer needed to be studied or retained on this world.
Hashem consented to the Sotan’s argument. He instructed the Sotan to provide Him with a surface on which to write the decree to annihilate the Jews. The Sotan brought a Megillah, and Hashem wrote the decree.
The Torah donned mourning garments, sat before the Ribbono Shel Olam, and wept. The malachim cried as well, exclaiming, “Ribbono Shel Olam, if the Jews are wiped out, what purpose is there for us to exist?”
The sun and the moon heard the cries of the angels, and they ceased to provide light to the world.
Eliyahu HaNavi, immediately ran to the Avos, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. He ran to Moshe Rabbeinu. He beseeched them to take heed of the threat hanging over Klal Yisroel. He informed them that the angels, the sun, and the moon were all weeping at the prospect of the destruction of Klal Yisroel.
When Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov were appraised that the Jews had in fact sinned, the Avos recognized that the Jews deserved punishment, and responded that there was nothing that they could do to save them.
Eliyahu turned to Moshe Rabbeinu, the shepherd of Klal Yisroel, who had successfully come to their defence many times in the past and implored him to once again come to the defence of Klal Yisroel.
Signed in Cement: Proof in the Megillah
Rav Chaim Volozhiner was at his Purim seudah when many aniyim came to collect matonas la’evyonim. In accordance with the halachah to give tzedokah to whomever stretches out his hand in need on Purim, Rav Cham gave generously. One elderly gentleman reached out again and asked him for a second coin. He told Rav Chaim that upon receipt of a second donation he would tell Rav Chaim a novel idea about Purim.
Rav Chaim’s curiosity was piqued, and he gave the man a second coin.
The man then asked Rav Chaim if he knew where in the Megillah there was a rayah that there was hope for salvation because the Divine signature had been applied in cement and not in blood. He then showed Rav Chaim two pasukim that hint at this in the Megillah:
אם על המלך טוב יכתב לאבדם – “If it please the king, let it be recorded that they be destroyed” (Esther 3:9).
כי המן בן המדתא האגגי צרר כל היהודים חשב על היהודים לאבדם – “For Haman son of Hamedasa the Agagi, enemy of all the Jews, had plotted to annihilate the Jews” (9:24).
Haman’s plans were implemented only לאבדם, which can be read as a contraction of the two words, בדם לא, not with blood. The decree was written and signed in cement, and not in blood.
Rav Chaim Volozhiner was very moved by this novel idea, and he told it to the Vilna Gaon. Incredibly, the Vilna Gaon informed Rav Chaim that the elderly Jew who told him this amazing insight had to be none other than the same person who had advised Mordechai of this: Eliyahu HaNavi.
