Author: spencerwaldman@gmail.com

Who Did Haman Want to Become Queen?

The megilla states that Memuchan, one of the advisors of King Achashverosh, gave the advice to kill Queen Vashti. Based on our tradition, Memuchan was none other than Haman (see gemara megilla 12b). {Another opinion is that Memuchan was Daniel} It is well known that Haman suffered at the hands of his wife, Zeresh. She would only speak in their home her native language, which was not Haman’s mother tongue. She also caused him much distress in other matters. She was a very wise lady, who pushed her husband into the political theater and was constantly berating and insulting him. Therefore, he wanted to enact a decree that would force her to speak in their home only his language and that wives would have to respect their husbands. He therefore came up with the plan to kill Vashti, telling Achashverosh that the disgrace that he suffered through Vashti, would encourage all women to disgrace their husbands.

What is less well known, is  part of the reason that Haman wanted to kill Vashti was because of his ill feelings that he had towards her. One opinion is that she used to smack him on his face with her slipper in order to embarass him. Another opinion is that he felt slighted because his wife was not invited to Vashti’s party. The third opinion is that Haman had a daughter that he thought would be perfect to be the new wife of Achashverosh, and thereby ensuring his own political security. It is unclear if this is the same daughter that eventually dumped the contents of the garbage on her own father, thinking it was Mordechai, when Haman had to lead Mordechai around town on the royal horse. When she saw what she had done she felt such remorse that she committed suicide. To order mishloach manot to your children see childrens mishloach manot

When was Haman Hung?

We are all familiar with the Purim story. The Jews sinned, Haman plotted against them, the Jews repented, the Jews were saved, and Haman was hung. But few people know when did that occur? Many mistakenly think that it has something to do with the Purim holiday. That is incorrect. The true answer is that it was on the 16th of Nissan, the second day of Pesach. Some people have the custom to make a special seuda on that day to comemorate the demise of Haman.

After the Jews fasted for three days (including the first day of Pesach, see http://www.shalach-manos.com/mishloach_manot_israel_blog/which-mitzva-did-mordechai-command-not-to-fulfill/ ) the evil decree was rescinded, and Haman was hung. It wasn’t until nearly a year later that the story of Purim came to completion, when the Jews were able to destroy the rest of their enemies, and kill Haman;s sons

Which Day Did Haman Cast the Lots?

The Megillah states that the evil Haman cast lots to determine which day would be the most auspicious for him to carry out his evil machinations. We all know that the lots fell on the 13th of Adar. The little known trivia though, is the day that the lots were cast. It says explicitly in the Megillah that it was done in the month of Nissan, but it does not state the day. The Midrah brings that it was on the 13th of Nissan. Every day that the lot fell on, Haman disqualified because there was some merit for the Jewish nation on that day. Until he finally came to the month of Adar, which he felt was a good month because that is when Moshe Rabbeinu died. What he didn’t know was that Moshe Rabbeinu also was born in that month which served as a merit for the Jews. 

Another thing that occurred on the 13th of Adar was that the plague of darkness started in Egypt. Haman thought this would be a propitious day as many Jews were killed in that plague.

Which Mitzva Did Mordechai Command Not To Fulfill?

When we think of Mordechai Hatzadikk, we usually think of Purim. When we think of Purim we usually think of the many mitzvos associated with the holiday. For example, we think of the reading of the megilla, giving money to the poor, sending mishloach manot and the fun we have at the seuda. We may also conjure up the cute costumes that we saw last Purim or other Purim related themes. For example, Purim shpiels, drunk men, Yeshivas Mordechai Hatzaddik.

But one thing for sure we don’t think about is the fact that Mordechai commanded the Jews of Shushan, not to fufill a certain mitzva. Actually, many mitzvos.  According to the gemarah, Megilla, 16a, the 3 day fast started on the 14th and ended on the 16th of Nissan. Which means that on the 15th of Nissan, otherwise known as Leil Haseder, the Jews were not fufilling the mitzvos of eating matza, marror nor were they drinking the 4 cups. Now while some of these mitzvos are only rabbinically ordained, the eating of matza is biblical. So is the mitzva of simchos yom tov. It is interesting that the halocho is that mitvas sippur yetzias mitzrayim is supposed to be done with matza and marror in front of you on the table. It is unlikely that the Jews in the midst of their sackcloths, repenting, davening and fasting would have stopped in the middle of it all and performed this mitzva. So that could be another mitzva that was not fulfilled.

The reasoning behind this ruling was that pikuach nefesh overrides all other commandments. Another aspect is that the rabbis have the power to stop people from fulfilling even biblical commandments if they are not actively uprooting the mitzva but instead passively not fulfilling it.

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How Old Was Haman when He Was Hanged

We all know the basic story of Purim, Haman who was the viceroy of the kingdom wanted to kill all the Jews, but in the end he was hanged and his arch enemy Mordechai replaces him and we all live happily ever after. But did you ever ponder how old Haman was at the time of his final demise? Surprisingly, the midrash relates that he was 95 years old!!!! Not exactly as the story books portray him. But it is interesting to point out that as a person grows older, his kinaa, jealousy and tayvos, his desires usually diminish while his lust for kovod, honor grows greater. This is clearly the case with Haman, because even  though it seemed like he lacked nothing, the mere fact that Mordechai did not bow down to him and thereby dishonored him, caused him to lose everything and ended up being hung.

What is also noteworthy is that Mordechai was also the same age!

Who Was Hasach?

The Megilla relates that Queen Esther used a messenger to go in between herself and Mordechai. This was done so as not to arouse suspicion and to not reveal her nationality. The messenger that was used name was Hasach. But who was Hasach? The gemara in megilla (15a) states that Hasach was Daniel. Why was he referred to as Hasach? The gemara answers that he was cut down (nechtach) from the greatness of his position, which he had held during the reigns of Balshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. Another interpretation says that Daniel and Haman have the same numerical value and therefore Daniel preferred to be known as Hasach.

When Haman saw Hasach going to speak to Mordechai, he killed him fearing that the two were plotting against him.

Another reason for the name change is brought down in the midrash, was that he castrated himself (chatach) in the days of the wicked Nevuchadnezer, together with Mishael, Chanania, and Azaria.