When the amoroim used to study Megillas Esther, each one would begin with an introduction to the megilla to explain its fundamental premise.

The first explanation in the gemora of Megilla says HaRav Chaim Kluft revolves upon the posuk, "In place of the natzutz shall a cypress grow, and instead of the nettle shall the myrtle emerge." He said that natzutz refers to Haman, who claimed himself as worthy of worship. He will be exchanged for a cypress, referring to Mordechai who represented the prime of all fragrances. And instead of the nettle thorn, a myrtle, hadas, will flourish, which refers to Esther, also known as Hadas. In place of the wicked Vashti, daughter of the son of Nevuchadnetzar who laid flame to the Beis Hamikdash, shell reign Esther who is also called Hadassah."

What do these references represent? These are not random comparisons but titles for Mordechai and Haman. What do Chazal seek to teach us from them?

HaRav Saadia Gaon's commentary on the Megilla explains the development of the flow of the Megilla to the decree of "destroying, killing."

Let us surmise that if a person is told that he will die within the year, he is not unduly anxious, but here, when Mordechai tells Esther to go immediately to Achashverosh and to fast on Pesach, she is not fazed. "What's the rush? Let us wait until his wrath dissipates itself. It would mean my going to the king uncostumarily."

he new IDF commander, Ayal Zamir, began his new career on his left foot, or perhaps, it is more correct to say, "with his right foot," because he acted against his left foot. The almost first thing he did was to announce about the IDF spokesman of up till that day, Read Admiral Daniel Hagari, that he had no intention of promoting him a notch higher to general but to leave him at his present level but in a different position. Commander Zamir offered him a different top army post but Hagari declined the offer, announcing that if he does not get the advancement as general, he quits.

This was his left-foot beginning. Can one conceive of dismissing an army spokesman from his job?

One should remember that Hagari became the 'pet' of the Left after he criticized his political bosses several times. In a standard country, top army officials do not publicly voice criticism of political ranks to which they are expected to be subordinate and even if they have what to say, they only do it behind closed doors.

Had this prime army figure been a man of the Right voicing censure against a Leftist government, he would have been sent flying to the resounding voice of the exultant media, but Hagari was on the 'correct' side and publicly expressed condemnation against the government. He twice publicly spoke against his senior of rank, Security Minister Yisrael Katz, and even though he later apologized, his remarks were not unintentional but well planned.

What was new and unique about HaRav Yisroel Salanter's approach? Ethical works had been authored generations earlier. Men who had perfected themselves and feared Hashem existed in every era. What did R' Yisroel propound? Did he put more stress on mitzvos bein adam lechavero, or did he merely wish to place these mitzvos on an equal footing with mitzvos bein adam laMakom? What can we learn from his letters and from the stories of his conduct that abound?

Part 3

Last week we ended with the following question: Most of the time, we walk in darkness, and all of our efforts are aimed at filling our stomachs and satisfying our base, despicable desires. Additionally, we are steeped in sin. Our few meritorious acts are broken like earthen vessels, (i.e. of little value,) as we neither see nor know the proper, straight path! Therefore, Hashem derives no satisfaction from our lives. Even should we wish to receive reward for our meritorious acts... who knows what our position is?

Perhaps our transgressions outweigh all of our good deeds... It is only miraculously and by the mercy of Heaven that we continue to exist. Perhaps one day the miracle of renewal won't occur. Consider: Every moment that a person isn't studying Torah, he is deserving of death. There isn't a moment when death isn't standing before us. What, then, is the remedy for our innate desire to live?"