Purim Prayers Answered

Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Amsterdam sat at the head of the long table crowded with relatives and prominent members of the community. It was Purim, and the great Rabbi was about to begin the festive Purim meal.

Rabbi Elazar was not only famous as an outstanding Torah scholar and authority on Jewish law, but was also a noted Kabbalist. Even the non-Jews of Holland recognized and respected him for his piety and holiness. Before coming to Amsterdam in 1735, Rabbi Elazar had served as Rav in several important cities in Poland, among them Brody and Cracow. The Dutch royal palace had even minted a special coin in honor of his arrival, with a likeness of the esteemed Jewish sage.

The huge table was laden with enormous platters of meat, stuffed fish and other delicacies that had been sent to Rabbi Elazar as Mishloach Manot (the special gifts of food that are one of the mitzvot of Purim). Fine wines and other beverages were also available in abundance. In between the many courses, Rabbi Elazar held forth on the meaning and significance of the Purim holiday.

The celebration was well underway when a knock was heard at the door. Standing on the threshold were three emissaries of the Queen on an urgent mission. After apologizing profusely for interrupting, they asked to speak to the elderly Rabbi. Rabbi Elazar motioned for them to approach the table and deliver their message. They told him that in a certain district of Holland a dam had burst, and that thousands of innocent people were in danger of drowning.

As is obvious from its modern name, much of the Netherlands ("lowlands") lies below sea level. Over the centuries, a series of dams - high, fortified walls - were built to protect the Dutch people from being inundated by the ocean. One of these dams had now given way, and a sizeable portion of the country was in the direct path of the water.

The Queen's emissaries had heard much about the piety of the saintly Rabbi. Thus, after delivering their message, they fully expected him go off into a corner and pray. Surprisingly, however, they were invited to sit down and join in the festivities.

It was even more curious when Rabbi Elazar ordered every bottle of wine and whiskey remaining in the house to be placed on the table. Within minutes it was covered with an assortment of bottles and decanters. "Now, gentlemen," he continued, "let us fulfill the mitzva of the day to the best of our abilities. We will drink until we cannot distinguish between 'cursed is Haman' and 'blessed is Mordechai.' "

The dozens of guests, including the venerable Rabbi, quickly drained all of the assorted bottles of liquor. Before the astonished eyes of the Queen's emissaries the elderly Rabbi jumped up to conduct the revelry, whereupon everyone began dancing around the table.

The emissaries could not believe what they were seeing. The scene in the Rabbi's house was starting to resemble an unruly tavern. Without anyone noticing, the three men crept outside and returned to the royal palace.

The Queen was overjoyed to see them. She told them that their mission had been successful, and that the breach in the dam had been repaired. Instead of death and destruction, the damage had actually been quite minimal.

The emissaries were shocked, especially when they learned that the dam had been fixed at the exact time Rabbi Elazar and his guests were at the height of their carousing...

They proceeded to describe to the Queen everything they had witnessed in the Rabbi's house. Now it was the Queen's turn to be surprised, and on two accounts: How could such an esteemed Rabbi have behaved in such a manner? And more importantly, why was it that the workers had suddenly been able to fix the dam at that exact moment?

A few days later Rabbi Elazar was summoned before the Queen. Officially, it was to be thanked on behalf of the nation. Privately, however, the Queen hoped to clarify exactly what had happened that day.

When the right moment presented itself the Queen asked him directly. Rabbi Elazar smiled, his countenance exuding an ancient wisdom. "We Jews act in a unique manner," he replied. "Whenever it seems as if G-d is angry, we try to appease Him by fulfilling His will.

"The day the dam broke was Purim," he continued, "when we are commanded to be happy to the point of intoxication. Had I responded by praying and imploring G-d amidst tears, not only would I have failed to fulfill His wishes, but actually transgressed one of His commandments. It was precisely because I recognized the magnitude of the danger that I encouraged everyone to be even more joyful, in the hope it would arouse G-d's mercy."

The Queen was very pleased by Rabbi Elazar's explanation, and sent him home accompanied by a royal entourage.

The Purim of Basra

Basra is the second largest city in Iraq (next to Baghdad). Its Jewish settlement dates back over a thousand years. Nearly two hundred years ago, before the great exodus of Jews from Iraq, a miraculous salvation came to the Jews of that city, which led to the establishment of a special Purim to commemorate the event.

This miracle happened in the days of Suleiman Pasha, who governed Basra with justice and righteousness and treated the Jews kindly. Under the guidance of their leader, Rabbi Jacob ben Aaron, the Jewish community flourished. That is, until one day in Nissan, in the year 5534 (1774). On that day, Karim Khan, the Vizier of the Shah of Persia, arrived with a great army and besieged the city. Suleiman Pasha fought against Karim Khan, but could not prevail over him. A great famine spread in Basra and the city could no longer be defended. On the 27th day of Nissan the city fell into the hands of the invaders. The conquering soldiers robbed and pillaged the city, and many Jewish women threw themselves into the raging fires to escape the clutches of the barbarous hordes.

On the first day of the month of Iyar, Karim Khan established his rule over Basra. He imposed heavy fines on the people, particularly on the Jewish community, taking their leaders as hostages. Rabbi Jacob ben Aaron, with his wife and children, were sent as prisoners to the Shah in Shiraz, along with Suleiman and his family. And while Karim Khan and his men sat down to drink, the city of Basra was in despair.

Then, the Jews of Basra gathered in their synagogue, proclaiming a fast of repentance, and crying and weeping to G-d to save them from the hands of the wicked Karim Khan and his men. And G-d heard their cries.

The hearts of kings and rulers are in G-d's hands, Jewish teachings explain. G-d strengthened the heart of Karim Khan to seek more conquests and glory. Karim Khan went out to fight against the neighboring Arab tribesmen, but his army suffered defeat and retreated to Basra with great losses. Karim Kahn gathered a new army and went out to fight the Arabs again. But the Arabs ambushed them among the floods of the rivers and slaughtered them in great numbers. Karim Khan barely escaped with his life and returned to Basra with the beaten remnants of his army. The Persian Vizier lost no time in trying to gather a new army to fight against the Arabs. But his battle-weary soldiers had no heart to fight any more and they plotted to kill Karim Khan. On the 27th day of Adar, thirteen days after the original Purim, the wicked Persian Vizier was found dead, poisoned by the hand of his own servants.

News of the death of his Vizier and of the defeat of his armies reached the Shah. He ordered the remnants of his army to leave Basra under the cover of darkness and return to Persia in secret.

On the second day of Nissan, in the year 5535 (1775), the Jews of Basra rose up in the morning and discovered that not one of Karim Khans men remained in the city. Great was the rejoicing of the Jews of Basra at this miraculous deliverance from the hands of so wicked an enemy. They gathered in their synagogue to offer thanks to G-d for the miracle, and resolved to observe that day, year after year, as the day of the miracle.

It so happened that a saintly rabbi and kabbalist from the Holy Land was visiting Basra at that time. He had been sent as a special messenger by the Jewish community of Hebron to obtain financial support for the poor and needy of that ancient city. His name was Rabbi Jacob Elyashar (he was the grandfather of the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Jacob Saul Elyashar). Rabbi Jacob Elyashar composed a special scroll for the Jews of Basra, to be recited by them in the synagogue on this "Day of the Miracles," and to be followed by a special feast, with gifts to the poor, as on the day of Purim.

The Jews of Basra willingly accepted all his suggestions and incorporated them into the by-laws of the community, and ever since they observed the 2nd day of Nissan as a special Purim, "The Purim of Basra."

A heavenly Purim meal

The last rays of the sun had already disappeared, marking the end of the "Fast of Esther," and the beginning of the holiday of Purim. The synagogue of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev was filled to overflowing. Everyone waited patiently as Reb Levi Yitzchak ascended the lecturn to begin the evening service and then the reading of the megila, the story of Purim recorded in the Scroll of Esther.

The sexton approached Reb Levi Yitzchak and whispered something in his ear. The Rebbe immediately went out from the shul into an adjoining room.

There, a poor women was standing with a ritually slaughtered chicken. When salting the chicken before cooking it, she had noticed what seemed to be a broken bone and had come to ask the Rebbe if it was kosher. Reb Levi Yitzchak examined the chicken and found it to be not kosher. "Oy, what will I do? My husband is sick and my children are starving. I spent my last few coins on this chicken, hoping the soup would help my husband and satisfy my children. What shall I do?" the woman sobbed.

"Do not worry, my daughter. G-d helps everyone and will certainly help you, too," said Reb Levi Yitzchak compassionately. "Now go to the shul and listen to the megila," he added.

When the woman had left, Reb Levi Yitzchak put on his overcoat and went quickly to his home. There he gathered up everything his wife had prepared for the Purim feast the next day; fresh hamentashen, fish, chicken, soup, challah, and all kinds of delicacies. He tied it securely in a large, white tablecloth and made his way to the home of the poor woman.

Reb Levi Yitzchak entered the house and immediately heard the voice of the sick husband. "Is that you Sara? What happened with the chicken?" he asked in a weak voice.

"A good Purim, happy Purim," answered Reb Levi Yitzchak. "G-d has sent you a Purim gift." The Rebbe set the table neatly and then hurried back to the shul. The prayers and megila reading had not continued without the Rebbe; despite the late hour, no one wished to miss hearing Reb Levi Yitzchak read the megila.

That year, the megila reading seemed to take on new meaning for those gathered in the shul, especially when the Rebbe read the words about sending mishloach manot - gifts of food to one's friends - and giving extra charity to the poor. Everyone understood the implications of love and unity that were inherent in these mitzvot [commandments].

When Reb Levi Yitzchak's wife returned home, she was more than a little surprised to find that everything she had prepared for the Purim meal was missing! She entered her husband's study and found him deeply immersed in a holy book, his face aglow. The Rebbetzin intuitively understood what had happened. She managed to pull together a suitable meal from leftovers here and there.

When the poor family told the town excitedly that Elijah the Prophet had visited their house and brought "mishloach manot from G-d" the townspeople also understood where their Rebbe had been. He had substituted for Elijah.

That year, the unusually generous people of Berdichev were even more generous than usual. They sent food in abundance to Reb Levi Yitzchak for his festive Purim meal, and extra food and charity to all the poor of the city.