5786/2026
As the Purim story reaches a crescendo and Haman prepares to annihilate Klal Yisrael, Zeresh, Haman’s wife, comments to Haman, “Im MiZera HaYehudim Mordechai Asher HaChilota Linpol L’Fanav Lo TuChal Lo Ki Nafol Tipol L’Fanav, “If Mordechai, before whom you have begun to fall, is from Jewish lineage, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him.” (Esther 6:13). Until this point, the story has generally unfolded in Haman’s favor. What makes Zeresh feel this sudden sense of pessimism? Furthermore, why does Zeresh express this pessimism by connecting Mordechai to the “Zera HaYehudim”? After all, there are many other ways to describe his lineage or our nation?
Zeresh intuitively understood Jewish history. Rav Yisrael Meir Druck points out that in describing Mordechai as coming from the “Jewish seed” she was sharing something profound. When a seed is thrown into the ground and trampled on, it does not get destroyed. Instead, it takes root in the ground, derives nutrients from its lowly place and then grows back bigger and stronger. Similarly, Zeresh notes, the Jewish people have been thrown to the ground and persecuted. In each case, they have not been destroyed, but rather rebuild. Zeresh felt she was starting to notice this shift take place at that moment. Until this point, Haman had great success in persecuting the Jewish people and preparing to annihilate them. Yet, as Haman paraded Mordechai through the streets, she expresses this vision of Zera HaYehudim.
This message remains timely in each generation and certainly is palpable today. In the face of anti-Semitism, we are reminded of the message of Zera HaYehudim and how we respond with growth and strength to continue to rise to greatness.