A glimmer of hope , even for Haman .
This moment of redemption would not last . Almost immediately , in the same verse , Haman ’ s anger returns . He slunk back under the rock of his hatred , reverted back into who he was . Nowhere else in his lifetime is he described this way again . But as the Berdichever reminds us , we learn in the Talmud that Haman ’ s distant descendants became Torah scholars in Bnei Brak . 16
That single moment of light — though fleeting — was enough to shift something in his legacy .
Haman ’ s life was defined by a raging thirst for power , yet the only thing that truly endured beyond him ( besides our loud graggers !) was that brief moment of joyous transformation . It was enough to begin to break the pattern .
There are endless reasons to succumb to darkness . Since October 7 , 2023 , it has felt easier than ever . In response to spiking antisemitism around the world , our righteous indignation , fear , and anger are real , and at times , even overpowering . It can be tempting to let go of the light — to lean into the anger born of harsh encounter and to feed on the adrenaline it brings .
And yet , this moment in Megillat Esther teaches us that even as we fight — and fight we must — we cannot lose the essence of who we are . Even as we battle against darkness , we must not abandon the light and love that define us . We must hold onto the brilliance of those who came before us and share it — relentlessly — onto all we encounter . This is how we ensure that future Jewish generations will have the strength to do the same .
16
TB GiXn 57b
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