Interesting enough, in the entire megilla we don’t find hashems Name

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By Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum

Interestingly enough, in the entire Megilla we don’t find Hashem’s Name. That’s because the miracle of Purim took place during the seventy years of golus Bavel. During the golus, Hashem’s Name is always hidden as it says . The entire miracle of the Megilla can certainly be explained as chance and coincidence and in no way does it prove that it was Hashem’s doing. This is why it is called Megillas Esther that also means hidden. In fact the Yom Tov itself is called Purim, which means lots. Picking a lot seems to be an act of random selection and coincidence. It would be hard to prove that it is predestined unless one could predict the result even before the lot was selected. Amolek always claims that there is no G-d chas v’shalom, and that everything that happens is nothing but chance and coincidence. The world was formed by a big explosion called a "Big Bang" is what he tries to convince us. Man is nothing but the result of a long chain of accidental chance mutations due to something called "The survival of the fittest" are among his nonsensical theories. That’s like believing that a computer is the result of the accidental mutation of different parts of hardware and software that fell into place over billions of years. How absurd! The word Amolek is actually the numerical equivalent of the word "sofek" meaning doubt. His purpose is to create doubt in our minds. How can you prove with certainty that the story of Esther was the work of Hashem? Perhaps it was nothing but a coincidence is what he claims.

Yet, a G-d fearing Jew believes that nothing at all happens by chance or potluck and the selection is actually a result of G-d’s Hand in disguise. When Eretz Yisroel was divided up, it was done through the use of both the Urim V’tumim and a lottery. When the two matched, it showed that the lottery represented Hashem’s will and wasn’t a random selection.

And so when Shaul was chosen as king, it was also done through the use of both the Urim V’tumim and by casting lots. This would prove that the lot was not a result of mere chance and coincidence but rather that it was Hashem’s clear choice. Had they used only the Urim V’tumim, people could certainly have believed that it was the Kohen Godol’s own selection since the letters that lit up on the Choshen need the help of the Kohen Godol to put them into the proper sequence. One could easily rearrange the letters into some other word as was the story when Eli Hakohen read the word "k’sheira" as "shikora." And so while Haman thought that lots indicated a random selection, Jews knew that it represented Hashem’s hidden will and desire.

The miracles that take place during the golus are always disguised in ordinary events. One person got a flat tire and therefore came late to his office in the Twin Towers on 9/11. Another person missed his bus and therefore came late. Each person has a different story that seems to be coincidental. While some would call it good luck, others realize that it was G-d’s miraculous ways in disguise. The miracle is disguised in ordinary events and one could never prove that it was the Hand-of-G-d. That’s because during the golus, Hashem’s presence is hidden in the disguise of ordinary events. It was only during Chanukah that one witnessed an open miracle in which a bottle of oil that should ordinarily last for only one day, burned for eight days. That’s because during the time of the Bais Hamikdosh one was able to witness outright miracles such as the ten miracles that occurred in the Bais Hamikdosh every day.

And this is why we dress up on Purim and try to hide our true identity just as Hashem is here only in disguise. After all, there is no better way to disguise oneself than with the clothes we wear. It also reminds us of our enemies such as Amolek that tried to trick us into believing he was our good friend. King Achasverosh too tried to make us believe that he loved the Jews and that he even gave Haman’s house to Mordecai and allowed the Jews to defend themselves against their enemy. Yet out Chazal tell us right at the very beginning of the Megilla "that he was the same rosho from beginning to end." While he made believe that he was our best friend, this was only outward appearances.

Today too, many of our enemies claim they are our best friends and put pressure on Israel to sign a suicidal peace pact. Yet we had better remember who our real friends and enemies are. Many made believe that they are Israel’s best friend yet time has proven that just got us deeper into the hole! It’s time we realize