The Purim Party!
This past Simchas Torah, there were many mixed emotions. On the one hand, it was Simchas Torah, a time of great joy, but on the other hand, people were finding out what was happening in Eretz Yisroel. At the Neilas Hachag, the uncertainty over the future was palpable in the air. My Rav, R’ Moshe Schreiber shlita, gave a legendary speech addressing the dilemma, and he gave us great guidance as to how we should proceed. He mentioned an incredible story that shed light on the perspective. And so it goes:
Amsterdam is situated aside a great ocean. Alongside the ocean is a strong dam preventing the water from overflowing into the city. In the days of R’ Eliezer Rokeach, known as the Ma’aseh Rokaoch, there was a terrible decree. On Taanis Esther, an enormous number of sharp-headed fish attacked the dam, endangering the entire city from overflowing waters.
The king sent an urgent message to the Rokeach saying that he should declare a fast to nullify this gezeirah, decree. It was a matter of life-or-death!
The Rokeach replied that he shall do whatever is in his ability to get rid of the fish on condition that the king grants the Yidden however much wine they needed to drink for Purim.
Hearing this, the king was very insulted. He sent a return letter expressing his frustration. “He’s rebelling against the kingdom. I’m requesting that he fast and daven to nullify the decree, and he’s responding that he’s going to party, disregarding the facing destruction!”
“This is my condition,” responded the Rokeach firmly. “I wasn’t the one who initiated this agreement.”
The next day, the Yidden of Amsterdam received a plentiful amount of wine, and the joy in Amsterdam was greater than they’d ever experienced. They were certainly joyful because it was Purim, but it was particularly exuberant from their overabundance of wine.
At nightfall, a message came from the king saying that the danger has passed and the city was miraculously saved. What the Rokeach had been requested to do with crying he accomplished through his joy in doing mitzvos, which in and of itself saved the entire Amsterdam.
We see that unlike what the king had expected, the salvation came about through being happy. The great reward that lies in our doing Hashem’s mitzvos saved the entire city from this decree in a supernatural way.
