How does all this discussion relate to Purim? It is simple, because Chazal come to teach us that all of Purim is founded on שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד. All the strength to overcome Amalek stems from reciting Shema. Another yesod we learn from this is that even when everything seems bad, we must know that something good is hidden behind it – and we learn this from Purim. At first, everything looked grave: the Jews go to Achashveirosh’s feast and don’t listen to Mordechai’s words... Vashti goes crazy... Achashveirosh gets drunk and orders her killed and consults Haman on what to do... Haman heats up the scene, saying, "WhatsApp has never seen such embarrassments! You’re finished!!!" "So what should I do???" "Hang her immediately!!!" Vashti is killed, and suddenly they’re looking for a match for the old man:
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ מִקֵּץ הֱיוֹת לָהּ וּבְהַגִּיעַ תֹּר נַעֲרָה וְנַעֲרָה לָבוֹא אֶל־הַמֶּלֶך כְּדָת הַנָּשִׁים שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ כִּי כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי מְרוּקֵיהֶן שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים בְּשׁ ֶמֶן הַמּ ֹר וְשִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים בַּבְּשָׂמִים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵי ה ַ נ ּ ָ שׁ ִ י ם ׃
After twelve months of preparation – six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and cosmetics – and from all the maidens of Shushan and 127 provinces, who finds favor in his eyes? Esther!!! A woman seventy years old!
Immediately, the news spreads throughout Shushan: “The wife of the head of the Sanhedrin was abducted to Achashveirosh’s house!" And shortly after the news, the decree also comes out "to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, from young to old, children and women, in one day." The Jews, for their part, are certain Esther abandoned them – “Do you see this? She left us! She’s become a collaborator!" Then suddenly, in an instant, everything turns around! Meaning, what seemed to us like Midat HaDin turns out in the end to all be Rachamim! Thus, the only way to cope in exile is with לֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶ חָ ד-שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱ and to understand that it is all mercy!
