912. What Is Purim

At a Purim meal, March 1, 1953

Concerning Mordechai and Haman, Mordechai is regarded as “righteous,” meaning that he has no need to extend light of Hochma, but he is rather always in a state of bestowing.

It is known that no illumination comes down without an awakening from below. Hence, when the Creator wanted to give Mordechai the great lights, He asked Haman, “What should be done with the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Afterward, the king told him, “And do so to Mordechai the Jew.”

In other words, the lights of Haman must be accepted in the Kelim [vessels] of Mordechai and not in the Kelim of Haman. This is the meaning of what is written, “but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.” That is, they did not extend the lights of Haman but settled for killing the Kelim of Haman so he does not receive the lights.

Conversely, when Saul went to Agag and received the plunder, the flock and the cattle, Samuel the prophet said in the name of the Creator that he must not accept the plunder because then it was still not the time for it.