Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Mussar

I don't know why I, of all people, should have to teach a great and respected rabbi some Tanach, but apparently even the greatest amongst us lose their way occasionally. Anyone in a position to do so, please pass this on to Rav Twerski:


יב וַיַּגִּידוּ לְמָרְדֳּכָי, אֵת דִּבְרֵי אֶסְתֵּר.
יג וַיֹּאמֶר מָרְדֳּכַי, לְהָשִׁיב אֶל-אֶסְתֵּר: אַל-תְּדַמִּי בְנַפְשֵׁךְ, לְהִמָּלֵט בֵּית-הַמֶּלֶךְ מִכָּל-הַיְּהוּדִים.
יד כִּי אִם-הַחֲרֵשׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי, בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת--רֶוַח וְהַצָּלָה יַעֲמוֹד לַיְּהוּדִים מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר, וְאַתְּ וּבֵית-אָבִיךְ תֹּאבֵדוּ; וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ--אִם-לְעֵת כָּזֹאת, הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת.
טו וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר, לְהָשִׁיב אֶל-מָרְדֳּכָי.
טז לֵךְ כְּנוֹס אֶת-כָּל-הַיְּהוּדִים הַנִּמְצְאִים בְּשׁוּשָׁן, וְצוּמוּ עָלַי וְאַל-תֹּאכְלוּ וְאַל-תִּשְׁתּוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים לַיְלָה וָיוֹם--גַּם-אֲנִי וְנַעֲרֹתַי, אָצוּם כֵּן; וּבְכֵן אָבוֹא אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-כַדָּת, וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי, אָבָדְתִּי.

Translation with some liberties:
12. And Ester's servants told Mordechai [that Ester was reluctant to carry out her dangerous mission]
13. So Mordechai told the servants to respond to Ester, "Do not remain silent! Do not think that [by shirking your duties] you will remain safe while only other Jews are harmed.
14. Because if you are silent at this time [when you can be of greatest help] salvation and relief will come from another source. Furthermore, you and your whole family will be destroyed! For who knows? Maybe you rose to this position of power specifically to be of help in this very circumstance!"
15. So Ester replied to Mordechai saying,
16. "Go, gather all of the Jews and have them fast and repent for my well-being. Tell them to not eat or drink, day or night, for three days. I too will fast and repent. Afterwards, I will [perform this dangerous duty]. And if great harm should come to me [or my family], so be it!

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Buy DB's book. (please)

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