Partners In Prayer - Siddur

According to the Chasid Ya’avetz, the key verse of the Adar Hallel is, “The heavens are God’s, while the earth has been given to people.” The Purim challenge is how we choose to live in this world   and bring God’s Name to His creation. We therefore sing:   “Hallelukah! Praise, you who serve God!” This is the beginning of the praise offered by those who are truly, ‘Servants of God’: They live only to sing: “Praise the Name of God.”  They desire that all they will do will bring praise to God’s Name. This is why the Talmud teaches that the Megillah of Esther is Purim’s Hallel. “Let the Name of God be blessed from now and forever.” God’s Name is absent from the Book of Esther. It is revealed only to those who live with an awareness of God beyond time – ‘now and forever,’ – and beyond space – “From sunrise to sundown, the Name of God is praised.” “God is above all the nations.” The nations may acknowledge God as Creator, but not as the Guider of History, the Sustainer of Crea...

The Chasid Ya’avetz continues his commentary on Hallel by pointing out that the Children of Israel sang because the miracles were a demonstration of God’s deep and abiding love for them. They saw beyond the miracles,   and appreciated how God’s love was their driving force. The people who succeed in looking beyond the miracles to experience God’s demonstration of love, as did the Jews of the Purim story, who refused to take anything from the spoils of their enemies, and used the day to share their joy with each other, are able to experience God’s love as if they were the people who left Egypt, crossed the Sea and stood at Sinai:   “When Israel left Egypt, Jacob’s family from among a people who spoke a strange language, Judah became God’s Holy Place, Israel, His realm.” We, God’s servants, Judah and Israel, are God’s place. He is found in us as much as He was ‘seen’ when He took us out of Egypt. “The Sea saw it and ran away. The Jordan River reversed course.” One of the major t...

The Chasid Ya’avetz introduces this paragraph by explaining it as the praise of Israel when they have survived tragedy, and have experienced a ‘taste’ of the World to Come, a world of endless possibilities and potential –   the idea of accessing the full extent of God’s blessings:   We can also understand this paragraph as the prayer that Mordechai should have sung as soon as Esther was made queen, a sign of salvation indicating that salvation would be necessary; trouble was coming. Mordechai was also criticized for not praying after he successfully saved Achashveirosh’s life from the murderous plot of Bigtan and Teresh, another ‘salvation’ indicating that something bud was on the way,  something that would necessitate salvation. Mordechai should have acknowledged the blessings and used them to pray for more, as we do in this Hallel: “God remembered us and will bless – Bless the House of Israel – Bless the House of Aaron – Bless those who are in awe of God, the insignific...

The “Servant of God” who is singing the Hallel sees life as a series of challenges to grow as a human being and maximize his potential. He understands that each situation promises an opportunity of eternal blessing as celebrated   in paragraph three.   Mordechai and Esther were involved in a complex series of relationships that were personal, political, and religious. They looked back on the Purim story and rewrote the Book of Esther. They insisted that people committed to spiritual growth constantly review their actions and learn from their mistakes. Their ability to review and change was the most significant step toward independence. King David lived through his challenges with a vision of one day standing before the nation and raising the “Cup of Salvation,” acknowledging God’s help and guidance through every stage of his life. He committed himself to recognize how each event, no matter how painful, was one step toward his ultimate vision of being God’s servant in its highe...

I suspect that the Jews who heard of Haman’s decree did not celebrate God’s kindness, or perceive His truth, and yet, there were indications of both even in the darkest hours: Esther was Queen, and Mordechai saved the King’s life.   The Servant of God singing the Hallel does not sing only after Haman is defeated; he perceives and sings of God’s kindness and truth even during the time of travail:   “All you nations; Praise God! Sing compliments, all you peoples! For His kindness overpowers us, and God’s Truth is forever. Hallelukah!” By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y 

  This paragraph is sung by Mordechai and Esther as they reflect on the Purim story:   “Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!   Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever! Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever! Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!” Mordechai provoked Achashveirosh and Haman when he refused to obey the King’s command, intended specifically for Mordechai, to bow to Haman. Mordechai provoked Achashveirosh’s ire when he reported on the assassination plot to Esther rather than directly to the King. Mordechai is criticized by the Sages for not praying before the troubles began. He played a significant role in creating his “tight spot.” “I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly. God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to tru...