It all began in Ancient Persia (modern day Iran) in the fourth century BCE. The Holy Temple that had stood in Jerusalem was destroyed more than 50 years earlier, and the Jews were subjects of the mighty Persian empire, the superpower of the time.
Haman, one of Ahasuerus’s ministers, was promoted to the position of prime minister. Haman was a virulent Jew-hater; in fact, he was a descendant of the notoriously anti-Semitic nation of Amalek.
Haman resolved to take revenge against all the Jews and threw lots to determine the “lucky” day when he would implement his plan. The lot fell on the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar.
Haman approached Ahasuerus and offered him 10,000 silver talents in exchange for permission to exterminate the Jews. Ahasuerus, who was no friend of the Jews either, told Haman, “The money is yours to keep, and the nation is yours to do with as you please.”
Haman immediately sent proclamations to all the king’s land. These declarations, sealed with the royal signet ring, ordered the people to rise up against the Jews and kill them all – men, women and children – on the following 13th of Adar.
The Midrash relates that when the letters ordaining the decree against the Jews had been duly sealed by the king and delivered to Haman’s hands, Haman and all his comrades went strolling with jovial hearts and encountered Mordechai.
Just then Mordechai had caught sight of three little boys on their way home from school. He hastened towards them, and Haman and his band followed him so that they could hear what he was going to ask them.
Mordechai, a pillar of faith in an ancient empire, found comfort and courage from an unlikely source: three school children, each reciting a verse from their day’s studies.
The First Verse: “Do not fear sudden terror”:
This verse reverberated through Mordechai’s soul. It whispers even today amidst the sirens and rockets in Israel, saying, “Stand tall, fear not!”
The Second Verse: “Contrive a scheme, but it will be foiled”:
Heard in the heart of Mordechai, this line also resonates within the borders of modern Israel. Despite the plots and strategies aimed against it, the nation persists, fortified by faith.
The Third Verse: “To your old age I am [with you]”:
Eternal assurance was Mordechai’s takeaway, and it is Israel’s heritage. Through every trial, through every age, the promise stands: “You’re never alone.”
These verses gave Mordechai confidence amid impending doom, signaling divine assurance that defied logic. So too, amidst challenges, Israel hears these eternal truths echoing, a heavenly nudge to never lose hope.
Simply understood, the reason for Mordechai’s joy was that in the children’s words he saw a prophecy that he had no cause to fear Haman’s decree. Along these lines, there are a number of sources in the Talmud in which we encounter the phrase, “Recite me your verse,” intimating that the verse quoted by a small child serves as a kind of prophecy from Above.
The Midrash proceeds to relate that when Mordechai heard these responses, he smiled with a happy heart.
Haman asked him: “What makes you so happy about what these children said?”
Replied Mordechai: “I am happy because of the glad tidings they told me – that I should not be afraid of the evil plot that you contrived against us.”
Hearing these words, the wicked Haman flew into a rage and declared: “The very first ones whom I will destroy shall be these children!”
Today, we see Haman once again. I urge you to read the three verses. They been in our daily prayers ever since. Once again look at Mordechai, the leader of the Jewish people during one of the most horrific times in our history. The strength of our leaders and little over 2400 years ago should continue to guide us. We to shall be able celebrate our own Purim holiday.
Let’s walk in the footsteps of Mordechai, with a faith that’s unshakeable, a courage that’s unbreakable, and a spirit that resonates from Shushan to Jerusalem.
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Here is the actual prayer in phonetic Hebrew and translated into English if you would like to recite it now.
Al tiroh mipachad pis-om umi-sho-as re-shoim ki sovo. Utzu etza ve-sufor dabru dovor v’lo yo-kum ki imonu Kel. V’ad zikno ani hu, v’ad sei-voh ani esbol, ani osisi v’ani eso v’ani esbol va-ama-let. Ach tzadikim yodu lish-mecho yei-shvu yesho-rim es ponecha.
Translation:
Be not afraid of sudden terror, or of the darkness of the wicked when it will come. Take counsel and it will be foiled; speak a word and it will not succeed, for G‑d is with us. And until old age I am the same, and until you turn gray I will carry; I have made and I will bear and I will carry and deliver. But the righteous will thank Your name; the upright will sit before You.
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