2023/5783

Emcheh vs. Timche – A Major Hashkafic Point

Many years ago, I merited speaking with Rav Reuven Feinstein. During

the conversation, he noted that Sefer Shemot (17:14) states, “Emcheh

et Zecher Amalek,” “Hashem will destroy Amalek.” Still, in Sefer

Devarim (25:19), we are instructed to “Timcheh Et Zecher Amalek,”

“We must destroy Amalek” (Devarim 25:19).

Rav Feinstein told me that a significant Hashkafic point is

inherent in resolving this seeming contradiction, but he did not

articulate the point. Therefore, in this essay, we set forth what we

think is the central Hashkafic point to which he alluded.

Our Great Partnership with Hashem

Sefer Shemot and Sefer Devarim do not contradict regarding who

destroys Amalek, Hashem, or us. Instead, both Sefer Shemot and Sefer

Devarim are correct. Therefore, a combination of Hashem and us

eliminate Amalek. In addition, our partnering with Hashem to

eradicate Amalek is only one example of Hashem’s kindly granting us

the honor to partner with Him.

Shabbat 10a extols a rabbinic judge who properly resolves a

monetary dispute as Hashem’s partner in Maaseh BeReishit

(Creation). Similarly, Kiddushin 30b famously describes Hashem, one’s

mother, and one’s father as partnering to create a child. Ramban

(Breishit 6:19) unforgettably explains how Noach invested one

hundred twenty years in building the Teiva, followed by Hashem

miraculously expanding it to fit all creatures and their food for a year.

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Shiurim Le’Zeicher Abba Mari z”l

2:138-151) expounds beautifully on how we jointly sanctify the

Shabbat with Hashem by reciting Kiddush. Finally, the Tanur Shel

Achnay story (Bava Metzia 59b) reflects the great partnership

between Hashem and us in the Halachic process.

What a great gift from Hashem to privilege us by serving Him

as a partner! Hashem empowers and dignifies us by granting us such a

noble task!

The Purim Anti-Amalek Partnership

Purim is a prime example of Hashem partnering with us to

conquer Amalek. Esther topples Haman by ingeniously inviting

Haman to attend the party she made for Achashveirosh. However, as

brilliant as Esther’s plan and execution, it would have failed without

Hashem’s intervention.

Esther’s Brilliant Strategy

Esther had five targets in mind when she invited Haman – Hashem,

the Jewish People, Achashveirosh, the ministers other than Haman,

and Haman (see Megillah 15b). The invitation was a plea to Hashem to

make a miracle to save her people. The fact that she was forced to

ingratiate herself with the despicable Haman was intended to

dramatize the utter desperation of the situation.

The signal to the Jewish People was that they must intensify

their prayers. Despite the dreadful decree, we were not desperately

disturbed since we thought our well-connected “sister” in the palace

would save the day. When we became aware that Esther had invited

Haman to her party, we believed that Esther became an ally of Haman

and abandoned her Jewish identity to spare herself from the decree.

This left us with the attitude that only Hashem could save us from

destruction, which led us to intensify our prayers, which proved quite

effective. Indeed, the finest prayer is when we recognize our total

dependence on Hashem (such as when we state, “Va’Anachnu Lo Neida

Mah Na’aseh Ki Eilecha Einenu,” “we do not know what to do because

our eyes are turned you”).

Esther also targeted Achashveirosh in her plan. Her goal was to

plant feelings of jealousy and suspicion of Haman in Achashveirosh. At

the party, Esther possibly lavished attention on Haman to make

Achashveirosh think she was interested in Haman. It is evident from

the Megillah that Achashveirosh was a very insecure, suspicious

individual, and the Bigtan and Teresh conspiracy shows that he had

good reason to be paranoid.

Esther sought to make Achashveirosh think Haman was

plotting against him and that Esther was a partner in his scheme. In

addition, Esther understood that Achashveirosh was erratic and

impulsive. Therefore, she invited Haman so that if she succeeded in

convincing Achashveirosh to kill Haman, he would be available for

immediate execution before Achashveirosh could change his mind.

She also wanted Haman to be available for immediate execution so

that he would not have an opportunity to organize a rebellion.

Another dimension of Esther’s strategy was to inflate Haman’s

ego. Seifer Mishlei

teaches that haughtiness precedes one’s downfall

because when people become overconfident, they let their guard

down and become vulnerable to a big fall. Esther sought to do this by

inviting him to the exclusion of the other royal advisors. Serving a meal to an enemy is a wise tactic to build the enemy’s trust, which we

can later exploit to his disadvantage. It is evident from the Megillah

that Haman’s ego was quite delicate and easily bruised (by Mordechai

not bowing to him) or inflated (by Esther’s invitation). Thus, his

emotions could be readily manipulated.

Finally, Esther sought to incite the jealousy of Haman among

the other advisors, as they would be upset that only Haman was

invited to the party. Achashveirosh’s court – like many royal courts

throughout history – was filled with intrigue, suspicion, and envy

because the advisors struggled to advance themselves at the expense

of others. Esther deftly played on this atmosphere of court intrigue.

The Plan’s Execution

The prayers were effective as Hashem enabled Esther’s plan to

proceed exactly as designed. Achashveirosh became quite jealous and

suspicious, as evidenced by his inability to sleep. He wondered why

no one emerged to warn him of the impending plot, and he searched

his records to see if, in the past, someone had foiled a plot and had not

been rewarded, thereby discouraging individuals from coming

forward and sounding a warning. When Achashveirosh discovered

that Mordechai had not been rewarded for saving him from Bigtan and

Teresh, Achashveirosh began to think of an appropriate reward.

Haman was elated at his exclusive invitation, and this flattery

led him to become vulnerable. He carelessly visited Achashveirosh’s

palace at night, deepening Achashveirosh’s suspicion; Achashveirosh

thought Haman might be lurking in his courtyard at night to kill him.

Moreover, Haman did not exercise caution when Achashveirosh tested

him by asking him how to honor one he wished to honor. Haman’s

response that he should dress him in the king’s clothes, ride the king’s

horse, and have the crown placed on his head portrayed his ambitions

to become the king and confirmed Achashveirosh’s suspicion.

The Second Party

All was now in place for Esther’s opportunity to make the plea for her

people. Achashveirosh was mistrustful, while Haman’s ego was

inflated. He subsequently dealt a severe blow by having to honor

Mordechai publicly and by his wife’s painfully discouraging words.

Esther made her appeal, exposed Haman, and labeled him an evil

man. Achashveirosh stepped outside for a moment and returned

just as Haman fell on Esther’s bed, deepening Achashveirosh’s

suspicion of Haman.

Finally, a minister named Charvonah, motivated by jealousy of

Haman and eagerness to advance his standing in the court, showed

Achashveirosh the pole upon which Haman wished to hang

Mordechai, clinching the decision to execute Haman. He was readily available for immediate hanging before Achashveirosh changed his

mind, and Haman had an opportunity to organize a rebellion.

Hashem’s Intervention

In Esther’s story, we can identify three “fingerprints” as proof of

Hashem’s subtle manipulation of events on our behalf. These include

incredible timing, our enemies acting inexplicably foolish, and the

unfolding of many improbable events against all expectations.

Incredible timing is a tell-tale sign of divine intervention

subtly influencing events. The exquisite timing of Achashveirosh

happening to read about Mordechai saving his life just as Haman

entered the palace courtyard and Achashveirosh reentering the palace

just as Haman fell on Esther’s bed, are clear manifestations of

Hashem’s subtle Hand. Esther’s selection as queen surmounted

staggering odds. Enemy foolishness abounds in Megillat Esther, such

as their permitting a woman to serve as a queen without knowing

even a shred of information regarding her background and Haman

impulsively falling on Esther’s bed instead of waiting for things to

calm down. Had he patiently waited, Haman would have likely

emerged unscathed. His hasty falling on Esther’s bed exacerbated his

situation.

Blending Hashem’s Intervention and Our Actions

The Purim miracle is a prime example of the delicate interplay

between human effort (Hishtadlut - Timcheh) and divine intervention

(Hashgachah Pratit - Emcheh). Esther’s inviting Haman to the parties

was a stroke of genius that set the stage for our deliverance from the

evil decree. Yet without Hashgachah pratit (Emcheh) facilitating

Esther’s rise to the queenship (against all odds), Mordechai’s saving

Achashveirosh from Bigtan and Teresh (perfect timing for Mordechai

to discover the plot), Haman’s entering the courtyard to ask

permission to hang Mordechai just at the time that Achashveirosh was

reminded of Mordechai foiling the plot (against all odds and enemies

acting foolishly), and Haman falling on Esther’s bed just as

Achashveirosh reentered the palace (exquisite timing), the Jews would

not have been saved.

Despite Esther’s talent and dedication to ensure her brilliant

plan’s seamless execution (Timcheh), the strategy could not have

worked without Hashem tilting these events (Emcheh). Many

circumstances had to align harmoniously for our fate to be reversed.

The discerning reader of the book of Esther readily recognizes

Hashem’s involvement and recites the blessing of She’Asa Nissim

La’Avoteinu (Who made miracles for our ancestors) intently before he

reads the Megillah on Purim.

Conclusion – Emcheh and Timche on Purim

Purim perfectly illustrates the Emcheh/Timcheh partnership in

eliminating Haman and his supporters. No wonder why we read Timche on Shabbat Zachor and Emcheh on Purim. Right before the

morning Megillah reading, we read Shemot 17:14, recording Hashem’s

role in destroying Amalek (Emcheh). Hearing Emcheh alerts us to

search for and discover Hashem’s subtle hand in the victory over the

Amalekian Haman and his followers. Hashem’s Emcheh facilitates us

to fulfill our Timcheh side of the partnership.

Postscript – The Miraculous Capture of Adolf Eichmann

The incredible 1960 Mossad capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina

is a modern-day Emcheh/Timcheh combination to destroy Amalek.

For example, Eichmann’s son foolishly dated a woman who,

unbeknownst to him, was Jewish. This relationship directly led to

Eichmann’s discovery. The Mossad overcame staggering odds to

capture Eichmann, hide him for days, and bring him out of the country

despite Argentinian authorities (many of whom were Nazis or Nazi

sympathizers) knowledge of Eichmann’s abduction. Finally, exquisite

timing was on grand display when the Israeli agents left their

Argentinian “safe house” moments before Argentinian police raided

the safe house. This perfect timing is reminiscent of Yaakov Avinu

leaving Yitzchak Avinu’s home exactly before Eisav entered to receive

his Bracha (Breishit 27:30).

Although the Mossad acted brilliantly and bravely in

capturing Eichmann (Timcheh), they would never have succeeded

without Hashem’s covert assistance (Emcheh). A careful examination

of the Eichmann capture reveals Hashem’s “fingerprints” throughout

this incredible episode. The Timcheh/Emcheh partnership is evident

in our time, just as in the days of Megillat Esther.