Continuing onward on this enlightening journey, we will now focus on the intriguing statement of Reish Lakish: It was revealed and known to the Creator of the world, that Haman was destined to weigh out shekalim for the purpose of destroying the Jews. Therefore, He (HKB”H) arranged for the Jews to have their shekalim precede his shekalim. And thus, we learned in a Mishnah: On the first of Adar, they (the Sanhedrin) announce the obligation to donate the shekalim and the prohibition of growing kilayim.
Let us begin with a teaching in the Gemara (Chullin 139b): "המן מן התורה מנין, המן העץ"—where is there a reference to Haman in the Torah? From the words ״המן העץ" (“from the tree”). In other words, the name Haman is alluded to in HKB”H’s interrogation of Adam HaRishon regarding the “cheit Eitz HaDa’as” (Bereishis 3, 11): "הֲמִן העץ אשר צויתיך לבלתי אכול ממנו אכלת"—have you eaten of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat? The word הֲ מִ ן is spelled exactly the same as the name הָ מָ ן. The Bnei Yissaschar (Adar 7, 9) explains the significance of this fact based on what is written in Mishnas Chassidim (Maseches Adar 3, 5-6) in the name of the Arizal. He explains that the wicked Haman is the embodiment of the “nachash hakadmoni”—the primeval serpent in Gan Eden who masterminded the “cheit Eitz HaDa’as.” In similar fashion, he persuaded Yisrael, at the time of the Purim saga, to partake of the feast hosted by the wicked Achashveirosh. This then is the question posed by the Gemara: "המן מן התורה מנין"—from where did Haman draw the power to prosecute and oppose the Jews? To which it answers: "המן העץ"—he evoked the sin of the Eitz HaDa’as by convincing them to participate in and delight in the feast held by that wicked king. This is the gist of his holy words.
Accordingly, we can begin to comprehend the malicious intent of Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and Haman’s wicked cohorts (Esther 5, 14): "יעשו עץ גבוה חמישים אמה ובבוקר אמר למלך ויתלו את מרדכי עליו"—let them make a gallows, fifty cubits high; and, in the morning, speak to the king and have them hang Mordechai on it. They
