MHA-FYOS Dean's Blog

To see this article online, click  here . Shoshanat Ya’akov :  Seeing Mordechai through Rose-Colored Glasses Shoshanat Ya’akov / Tzahala Ve’Samecha / Bir’otam Yachad / Techelet Mordechai. The rose of Jacob / was cheerful and glad /  when they jointly saw / Mordechai robed in royal blue. A Jewish liturgical poet ( paytan ), of unknown identity and time, wrote this line towards the end of his piyyut , Asher Heini .[1] Despite its shroud of anonymity, Asher Heini is recited in Ashkenazic communities on Purim night immediately following the after-blessing on the Megillah-reading.[2] Shoshanat Ya’akov is recited again after the daytime reading.[3] What critically important message does Shoshanat Ya’akov convey that demands such prominent placement in the Megillah-reading service? Piyyutim reinforce and elucidate lessons from Tanach and other authentic Jewish sources. The best piyyutim succinctly recast these foundational ideas by borrowing phrases, l...

This coming week we will celebrate the holiday of Purim, be’ezrat Hashem , and we will read Megilat Esther. Early in the Megilah, Jewish ascendancy is quickly replaced by Jewish peril. Esther becomes queen and Mordechai reveals an assassination plot to the king. Suddenly, Haman is promoted and the king issues a decree of death for the Jews. Mordechai reacted publicly to this decree; “Mordechai learned of all that had been done; and Mordechai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes. He went out into the midst of the city and cried loudly and bitterly. He came until the front of the king’s gate for it was forbidden to enter the king’s gate, clothed with sackcloth.” (Esther 4: 1-2) This location served as Mordechai’s post to pray and fast on behalf of the Jewish People for most of the rest of the Megilah story. In another moment of ascendancy, the king ordered Haman to publicly parade his arch nemesis, Mordechai, around the capital city in royal clothing on a royal horse. The ti...