V'higadeta - Megillas Esther - Insights & stories

Insights, stories, and teachings from the treasure-trove of the maggid. The telephone rings in the Galinsky home. “May I speak to the rav?” “No, he’s in shul. Who is this?” “It doesn’t matter. Just tell him that the last one got engaged. Bye.” Strange. When Rav Galinsky returns home from shul, they give him the message and he’s overjoyed, praising and thanking HaKadosh Baruch Hu for bringing this about. Then he explains. The previous winter he had traveled to America to fundraise. He spent Purim in Lakewood and celebrated the Purim seudah Novardok-style: replete with poignant singing and words of mussar and beautiful ideas mined from the megillah. Then five bachurim showed up asking for a berachah: they were single and were hoping to get engaged that year. “I’m not a tzaddik to whom one would go to seek berachos,” Rav Galinsky told them, “but I’m here raising funds for several Torah institutions in Eretz Yisrael. Give a donation, and in the merit of the mitzvah, you will see your yeshuah.” They pulled out their wallets and gave him donations, and Rav Galinsky blessed them that they would all get engaged within the year. The next morning he felt bad about taking money for what might turn out to be an empty promise. But the bachurim refused to take it back. “Then I’ll hold on to it and if one of you doesn’t get engaged within the year, I’ll give you all back your money.” Now he had received the news that the last of the five bachurim had gotten engaged. A Purim miracle! ******************* In Novardok, Purim was greater than Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur one receives atonement for sins of the past; on Purim one is fortified for the future. On Yom Kippur one is inspired by the tefillos; on Purim, we create the tefillos. On Yom Kippur, we say vidui; on Purim, we read the megillah — a repository of lessons and inspiration. Now, in his unique, penetrating style — with stories and parables, lessons and maxims, pesukim and ma’amarei Chazal — Rav Yaakov Galinsky brings Megillas Esther alive. As you unearth this magnificent treasure-trove of stories and real-life lessons, Rav Galinsky’s derashos will transform you and your understanding of the Purim miracle.