It might seem that Purim has no connection to the Land of Israel since the story of the Megillah took place abroad. Indeed, the Gemara states that this is one of the reasons we do not recite Hallel on Purim, despite the great joy. But the truth is that there is a vital connection between Purim and the Land of Israel beneath the surface. To understand this connection, we need to examine several characters from the Megillah.
First, Mordechai: “A Jewish man was in Shushan the capital, and his name was Mordechai… who was exiled from Jerusalem with the exiles who were exiled with Yechonia king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon exiled” (Esther 2:5–6). The Vilna Gaon interprets: “It says he was exiled three times, to indicate Mordechai’s love of the Land of Israel, that each time he was taken out from there, even by force, he found a way back.” Mordechai loved Jerusalem so much that each time he was taken from there, he found his way back.
The second character is Haman. The verse states: “After these events, King Achashveirosh promoted Haman” (Esther 3:1). The sages explain that this was mainly a financial promotion (Shocher Tov, Mishlei 11).
The Shem MiShmuel provides a historical overview of the financial history of the world: The first to collect money was Yosef. He collected all the money in the Middle East during the famine, as everyone bought from him. This money went to Egypt’s treasury, and after that to Bnei Yisrael, as it says: “And they plundered Egypt.” From this gold and silver, they built the Mishkan in the desert and later the Beit HaMikdash. Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed the Beit HaMikdash, took it all. The kingdoms of Persia and Media conquered Babylon and seized all its treasures. Finally, King Achashveirosh personally entrusted all his treasures to Haman (Shem MiShmuel, Esther 3:11).
The third character is Vashti. Her significance lies in providing room for Esther to enter the royal family. As a result of Esther’s marriage to Achashveirosh, the future kings of Persia and Media would be from Esther’s descendants.
Now to the story itself. Our Megillah begins with a feast of 180 days. For what reason? The prophet Yirmiyahu declared: “For when the seventy years of Babylon are completed, I will remember you” (Yirmiyahu 29:10) – meaning the Babylonian exile would last only seventy years.
The Gemara tells us that the third year of Achashveirosh’s reign is when he held this grand feast, and according to his calculations, the seventy years of Babylonian exile had ended (Megillah 11b). The feast displayed Achashveirosh’s joy that Yirmiyahu’s prophecy had not been fulfilled – in his opinion, this was the end of the Jewish people. To emphasize this, he took from his treasuries the vessels of the Beit HaMikdash and the garments of the Kohen Gadol and used them brazenly at the feast. Hence, we read in the scroll with the melody of Eicha: “And vessels of various types” (Esther 1:7).
The Jewish people living in Shushan were in a difficult situation. Participating at this feast, where their defeat was celebrated, further humiliated them. We can now understand the Gemara’s statement that they were punished for enjoying the meal of that wicked man.
Now comes the irony in this story, as the Megillah itself calls it: venahafoch hu – “and it was reversed” (Esther 9:1). For the Jewish people to return to their land and rebuild their Beit HaMikdash, they needed the permission of the rulers and the financial means. These came about as a result of this feast.
Achashveirosh expelled Vashti, and in her place, Esther entered. To this royal couple – Achashveirosh and Esther – a son (Darius) was born, who reigned under his father and gave permission to return to the land and build the Beit HaMikdash.
At the end of the Megillah we are told: “And Esther appointed Mordechai over the house of Haman” (Esther 8:2). Furthermore, Achashveirosh transferred the ring to Mordechai – the privilege of signing off on his treasures. Therefore, all the money Haman had collected went to Mordechai, who so loved Jerusalem. Surely he was happy to invest that money in building the second Beit HaMikdash! The Maharal wrote: “For after Achashveirosh exalted Haman, this caused the Beit HaMikdash to be rebuilt” (Or Chadash 127).
We must appreciate the irony in the Megillah story. The feast that was supposed to celebrate the end of the Jewish people’s hope of returning to their land became venahafoch hu – the turning point. Precisely as a result of this feast, the Jewish people received the financial means and permission to return to Eretz Yisrael and build the second Beit HaMikdash. We hope and pray that G-d will help us rebuild the third Beit HaMikdash speedily in our days, Amen.
Rabbi Shlomo Kimche is the founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Orot Yehuda in Efrat, Rabbi of the Orot Yehuda Community, and Vice Chairman, Bnei Akiva Educational Network Yeshivot and Ulpanot.