The Talmud in tractate Megila mentions that Ester was one of four of the beautiful women that ever lived. The others were Chava(Eve) the first woman, Sarah, Avrahams wife, Rachav who was a prostitute that later became an observant Jew. She later on married Yehoshua ben Nun, the leader after Moshe. Lastly, Ester.
G-d gave Ester CHEN a special grace that no one can resist. It was especially infused in her when she took the initiative and met with the king.
WANT TO INVITE YOU TO A MEAL!
Esther invited Achashverosh and Haman for a meal. At the dinner party, she dropped the bomb on Haman. Inviting the enemy to your house is strategically a very good tactic. It makes your guest feel good and it disarms a person. One caters to one’s pride (in this case the guest).
We find that Korach invited many of the important people and won them over by the HACHNASAT ORCHIM- bringing in guests. That’s one reason his rebellion almost succeeded. The guest will forever be indebted to the host.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEAL?
Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, the changing of fortunes took place at Esther’s dinner party. We try to emulate G-d’s mercy. Another reason is that Haman wanted to destroy us, not just our spirituality like by Chanukah, but rather our whole bodies, destroying both physical and spiritual. Here, we are using our physicality for good, for the love of G-d, for his sake. We are showing appreciation that He had mercy on us and using it for the right reason.
STRESS CAN BRING OUT THE EMOTIONS THAT ONE MIGHT NOT WANT TO SHOW.
After Esther tells the king that there is a wicked man who wants to destroy my people, Achashverosh said, “ME WHO ZEH VEAI ZEH WHO- Who is this person?” Esther gets up and points her finger at who? ACHASHVEROSH, the king! Immediately, an angel came and redirected the finger at Haman. What was Ester thinking? This meeting between Esther, Achashverosh and Haman was carefully planned out. This was the perfect opportunity to finally get the evil Haman. Yes, we know Achashverosh was no boyscout, however young lady, please stick with the script!! The nation is depending on you!!
Obviously, Esther was under a lot of stress. Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt, Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, says that when we are under a lot of pressure, one’s inner feelings come out. How many people, presidential candidates for example, slip and say something they shouldn’t.
In the case of Esther, G-d didn’t allow it to come out.
Dr. Goldman, a psychologist at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, says that pressure comes from the attitude we have. It is controllable; we just have to adjust our way of thinking and try to have a positive attitude.
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