Purim 

פורים

At the height of Haman’s success, when he came to ask the king to hang Mordekhai, his fortune was reversed. The king asked him how it would be appropriate to honor a person who had performed kindness for the king. Haman was convinced that Ahashverosh was talking about him, but it soon became clear to him that the king was referring to Mordekhai, and that it was incumbent upon him to honor Mordekhai in public. The Sages described and elucidated at length the relevant events cited in the book of Esther.  

“On that night, the king’s sleep was disrupted” (Esther 6:1). Rabbi Tanhum said: The sleep of the King of the Universe was disturbed. And the Sages said: The sleep of the King of the upper ones, God, was disturbed, and the sleep of the king of the lower ones, Ahashverosh, was disturbed. Rava said: It was actually the sleep of King Ahashverosh that was disturbed. A thought occurred to him and he said to himself: What is this that is before us that Esther has invited Haman? Perhaps they are conspiring against that man  to kill him. King Ahashverosh said again: If this is so, is there no man who loves me who would inform me? He said again: Perhaps there is some man who has done me a favor and I have not rewarded him, and for that reason, because they stand to gain nothing, people refrain from revealing it to me. Immediately: “He said to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they would be read before the king” (Esther 6:1). 

“And do so  to Mordekhai” (Esther 6:10). Haman said to the king: Who is Mordekhai? Ahashverosh said to him: “The Jew” (Esther 6:10). Haman said to him: There are several Mordekhais among the Jews. He said to him: Mordekhai “who sits at the king’s gate” (Esther 6:10). Haman said to him: It would be enough for him if you gave him one village or one river. Ahashverosh said to him: Give him that too; “do not omit any matter from all that you have spoken” (Esther 6:10). 

“Haman took the garments and the horse” (Esther 6:11). He went and found Mordekhai with the Sages sitting before him, and he was demonstrating to them the <i>halakhot</i> of the handful.  When Mordekhai saw Haman coming toward him with the reins of his horse held in his hands, he became frightened, and he said to the Sages: This evil man has come to kill me. Go away from him so that you should not be burned by his coals.  

At that moment, Mordekhai wrapped himself in his prayer shawl and stood to pray. Haman came and sat down before them and waited until Mordekhai finished his prayer.  

Haman said to the Sages: With what were you occupied? They said to him: When the Temple is standing, one who pledges a meal offering would bring a handful of fine flour and achieve atonement with it. Haman said to them: Your handful of fine flour has come and overridden my ten thousand silver pieces ….  

Haman said to Mordekhai: Rise, don these garments, and ride this horse; the king wants to honor you. Mordekhai said to him: I cannot do so until I enter the bathhouse and trim my hair, as it is not proper conduct to use the king’s garments in this state. 

Esther sent a directive and closed all the bathhouses and all the bloodletters and barbers. Haman took Mordechai into the bathhouse and bathed him, and Haman went and brought scissors from his house and trimmed Mordekhai’s hair with them. While Haman was trimming he injured himself and groaned. Mordekhai asked him: Why are you groaning? Haman said to him: The man whom the king had regarded above all his ministers is now made a bathhouse attendant and a barber. Mordekhai said to him: Wicked one, weren’t you the barber of the village of Kartzum? As it was taught by the Sages: Haman was the barber of the village of Kartzum for twenty-two years.... 

“And he proclaimed before him: So shall be done to the man whose honoring the king desires” (Esther 6:11). As Haman was taking Mordekhai along the street of Haman’s house, Haman’s daughter was standing on the roof and saw the spectacle. She thought that the one who was riding was her father, and the one walking before him was Mordekhai. She took a chamber pot and cast it onto her father’s head. Haman lifted his eyes; she saw that it was her father. She fell from the roof to the ground and died. <source>(<i>Megilla</i> 15b) </source>

At the height of Haman’s success, when he came to ask the king to hang Mordekhai, his fortune was reversed. The king asked him how it would be appropriate to honor a person who had performed kindness for the king. Haman was convinced that Ahashverosh was talking about him, but it soon became clear t