2023/5783
Emcheh vs. Timche – A Major Hashkafic Point
Many years ago, I merited speaking with Rav Reuven Feinstein. During
the conversation, he noted that Sefer Shemot (17:14) states, “Emcheh
et Zecher Amalek,” “Hashem will destroy Amalek.” Still, in Sefer
Devarim (25:19), we are instructed to “Timcheh Et Zecher Amalek,”
“We must destroy Amalek” (Devarim 25:19).
Rav Feinstein told me that a significant Hashkafic point is
inherent in resolving this seeming contradiction, but he did not
articulate the point. Therefore, in this essay, we set forth what we
think is the central Hashkafic point to which he alluded.
Our Great Partnership with Hashem
Sefer Shemot and Sefer Devarim do not contradict regarding who
destroys Amalek, Hashem, or us. Instead, both Sefer Shemot and Sefer
Devarim are correct. Therefore, a combination of Hashem and us
eliminate Amalek. In addition, our partnering with Hashem to
eradicate Amalek is only one example of Hashem’s kindly granting us
the honor to partner with Him.
Shabbat 10a extols a rabbinic judge who properly resolves a
monetary dispute as Hashem’s partner in Maaseh BeReishit
(Creation). Similarly, Kiddushin 30b famously describes Hashem, one’s
mother, and one’s father as partnering to create a child. Ramban
(Breishit 6:19) unforgettably explains how Noach invested one
hundred twenty years in building the Teiva, followed by Hashem
miraculously expanding it to fit all creatures and their food for a year.
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Shiurim Le’Zeicher Abba Mari z”l
2:138-151) expounds beautifully on how we jointly sanctify the
Shabbat with Hashem by reciting Kiddush. Finally, the Tanur Shel
Achnay story (Bava Metzia 59b) reflects the great partnership
between Hashem and us in the Halachic process.
What a great gift from Hashem to privilege us by serving Him
as a partner! Hashem empowers and dignifies us by granting us such a
noble task!
The Purim Anti-Amalek Partnership
Purim is a prime example of Hashem partnering with us to
conquer Amalek. Esther topples Haman by ingeniously inviting
Haman to attend the party she made for Achashveirosh. However, as
brilliant as Esther’s plan and execution, it would have failed without
Hashem’s intervention.
Esther’s Brilliant Strategy
Esther had five targets in mind when she invited Haman – Hashem,
the Jewish People, Achashveirosh, the ministers other than Haman,
and Haman (see Megillah 15b). The invitation was a plea to Hashem to
make a miracle to save her people. The fact that she was forced to
ingratiate herself with the despicable Haman was intended to
dramatize the utter desperation of the situation.
The signal to the Jewish People was that they must intensify
their prayers. Despite the dreadful decree, we were not desperately
disturbed since we thought our well-connected “sister” in the palace
would save the day. When we became aware that Esther had invited
Haman to her party, we believed that Esther became an ally of Haman
and abandoned her Jewish identity to spare herself from the decree.
This left us with the attitude that only Hashem could save us from
destruction, which led us to intensify our prayers, which proved quite
effective. Indeed, the finest prayer is when we recognize our total
dependence on Hashem (such as when we state, “Va’Anachnu Lo Neida
Mah Na’aseh Ki Eilecha Einenu,” “we do not know what to do because
our eyes are turned you”).
Esther also targeted Achashveirosh in her plan. Her goal was to
plant feelings of jealousy and suspicion of Haman in Achashveirosh. At
the party, Esther possibly lavished attention on Haman to make
Achashveirosh think she was interested in Haman. It is evident from
the Megillah that Achashveirosh was a very insecure, suspicious
individual, and the Bigtan and Teresh conspiracy shows that he had
good reason to be paranoid.
Esther sought to make Achashveirosh think Haman was
plotting against him and that Esther was a partner in his scheme. In
addition, Esther understood that Achashveirosh was erratic and
impulsive. Therefore, she invited Haman so that if she succeeded in
convincing Achashveirosh to kill Haman, he would be available for
immediate execution before Achashveirosh could change his mind.
She also wanted Haman to be available for immediate execution so
that he would not have an opportunity to organize a rebellion.
Another dimension of Esther’s strategy was to inflate Haman’s
ego. Seifer Mishlei
teaches that haughtiness precedes one’s downfall
because when people become overconfident, they let their guard
down and become vulnerable to a big fall. Esther sought to do this by
inviting him to the exclusion of the other royal advisors. Serving a meal to an enemy is a wise tactic to build the enemy’s trust, which we
can later exploit to his disadvantage. It is evident from the Megillah
that Haman’s ego was quite delicate and easily bruised (by Mordechai
not bowing to him) or inflated (by Esther’s invitation). Thus, his
emotions could be readily manipulated.
Finally, Esther sought to incite the jealousy of Haman among
the other advisors, as they would be upset that only Haman was
invited to the party. Achashveirosh’s court – like many royal courts
throughout history – was filled with intrigue, suspicion, and envy
because the advisors struggled to advance themselves at the expense
of others. Esther deftly played on this atmosphere of court intrigue.
The Plan’s Execution
The prayers were effective as Hashem enabled Esther’s plan to
proceed exactly as designed. Achashveirosh became quite jealous and
suspicious, as evidenced by his inability to sleep. He wondered why
no one emerged to warn him of the impending plot, and he searched
his records to see if, in the past, someone had foiled a plot and had not
been rewarded, thereby discouraging individuals from coming
forward and sounding a warning. When Achashveirosh discovered
that Mordechai had not been rewarded for saving him from Bigtan and
Teresh, Achashveirosh began to think of an appropriate reward.
Haman was elated at his exclusive invitation, and this flattery
led him to become vulnerable. He carelessly visited Achashveirosh’s
palace at night, deepening Achashveirosh’s suspicion; Achashveirosh
thought Haman might be lurking in his courtyard at night to kill him.
Moreover, Haman did not exercise caution when Achashveirosh tested
him by asking him how to honor one he wished to honor. Haman’s
response that he should dress him in the king’s clothes, ride the king’s
horse, and have the crown placed on his head portrayed his ambitions
to become the king and confirmed Achashveirosh’s suspicion.
The Second Party
All was now in place for Esther’s opportunity to make the plea for her
people. Achashveirosh was mistrustful, while Haman’s ego was
inflated. He subsequently dealt a severe blow by having to honor
Mordechai publicly and by his wife’s painfully discouraging words.
Esther made her appeal, exposed Haman, and labeled him an evil
man. Achashveirosh stepped outside for a moment and returned
just as Haman fell on Esther’s bed, deepening Achashveirosh’s
suspicion of Haman.
Finally, a minister named Charvonah, motivated by jealousy of
Haman and eagerness to advance his standing in the court, showed
Achashveirosh the pole upon which Haman wished to hang
Mordechai, clinching the decision to execute Haman. He was readily available for immediate hanging before Achashveirosh changed his
mind, and Haman had an opportunity to organize a rebellion.
Hashem’s Intervention
In Esther’s story, we can identify three “fingerprints” as proof of
Hashem’s subtle manipulation of events on our behalf. These include
incredible timing, our enemies acting inexplicably foolish, and the
unfolding of many improbable events against all expectations.
Incredible timing is a tell-tale sign of divine intervention
subtly influencing events. The exquisite timing of Achashveirosh
happening to read about Mordechai saving his life just as Haman
entered the palace courtyard and Achashveirosh reentering the palace
just as Haman fell on Esther’s bed, are clear manifestations of
Hashem’s subtle Hand. Esther’s selection as queen surmounted
staggering odds. Enemy foolishness abounds in Megillat Esther, such
as their permitting a woman to serve as a queen without knowing
even a shred of information regarding her background and Haman
impulsively falling on Esther’s bed instead of waiting for things to
calm down. Had he patiently waited, Haman would have likely
emerged unscathed. His hasty falling on Esther’s bed exacerbated his
situation.
Blending Hashem’s Intervention and Our Actions
The Purim miracle is a prime example of the delicate interplay
between human effort (Hishtadlut - Timcheh) and divine intervention
(Hashgachah Pratit - Emcheh). Esther’s inviting Haman to the parties
was a stroke of genius that set the stage for our deliverance from the
evil decree. Yet without Hashgachah pratit (Emcheh) facilitating
Esther’s rise to the queenship (against all odds), Mordechai’s saving
Achashveirosh from Bigtan and Teresh (perfect timing for Mordechai
to discover the plot), Haman’s entering the courtyard to ask
permission to hang Mordechai just at the time that Achashveirosh was
reminded of Mordechai foiling the plot (against all odds and enemies
acting foolishly), and Haman falling on Esther’s bed just as
Achashveirosh reentered the palace (exquisite timing), the Jews would
not have been saved.
Despite Esther’s talent and dedication to ensure her brilliant
plan’s seamless execution (Timcheh), the strategy could not have
worked without Hashem tilting these events (Emcheh). Many
circumstances had to align harmoniously for our fate to be reversed.
The discerning reader of the book of Esther readily recognizes
Hashem’s involvement and recites the blessing of She’Asa Nissim
La’Avoteinu (Who made miracles for our ancestors) intently before he
reads the Megillah on Purim.
Conclusion – Emcheh and Timche on Purim
Purim perfectly illustrates the Emcheh/Timcheh partnership in
eliminating Haman and his supporters. No wonder why we read Timche on Shabbat Zachor and Emcheh on Purim. Right before the
morning Megillah reading, we read Shemot 17:14, recording Hashem’s
role in destroying Amalek (Emcheh). Hearing Emcheh alerts us to
search for and discover Hashem’s subtle hand in the victory over the
Amalekian Haman and his followers. Hashem’s Emcheh facilitates us
to fulfill our Timcheh side of the partnership.
Postscript – The Miraculous Capture of Adolf Eichmann
The incredible 1960 Mossad capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina
is a modern-day Emcheh/Timcheh combination to destroy Amalek.
For example, Eichmann’s son foolishly dated a woman who,
unbeknownst to him, was Jewish. This relationship directly led to
Eichmann’s discovery. The Mossad overcame staggering odds to
capture Eichmann, hide him for days, and bring him out of the country
despite Argentinian authorities (many of whom were Nazis or Nazi
sympathizers) knowledge of Eichmann’s abduction. Finally, exquisite
timing was on grand display when the Israeli agents left their
Argentinian “safe house” moments before Argentinian police raided
the safe house. This perfect timing is reminiscent of Yaakov Avinu
leaving Yitzchak Avinu’s home exactly before Eisav entered to receive
his Bracha (Breishit 27:30).
Although the Mossad acted brilliantly and bravely in
capturing Eichmann (Timcheh), they would never have succeeded
without Hashem’s covert assistance (Emcheh). A careful examination
of the Eichmann capture reveals Hashem’s “fingerprints” throughout
this incredible episode. The Timcheh/Emcheh partnership is evident
in our time, just as in the days of Megillat Esther.