Perchik was Right….Sort of: Reflections on Wealth in the Torah and Megillah
Thank you to Kinneret Day School 8th Graders who shared their insights with me on this learning.
The older I get, the more wisdom I find in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Over the mid-winter break, I had the opportunity to watch “Miracle of Miracles” the documentary about the world wide popularity and timeless messages behind the Broadway hit.
One of my favorite lines by Tevye in the film is his retort to his future son-in-law Perchik about wealth:
Perchik:Money is the world's curse.
Tevye:May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover.
The Lord certainly “smites” kings and many leaders with riches and great wealth. The Torah recognizes this reality, and the Megillah uses the Torah’s language to teach an important contrast.
In what is known as parshat HaMelekh (Devarim Ch. 17) the Torah recognizes that Kings will be tempted to overdo their wealth and abuse their power. We are told that Kings should not amass too many wives or too many horses, lo yarbeh. Their possessions should be limited.
We are also told that Kings should keep a book, a sefer, with them at all times. This book, the Torah, is to be read by the King in order so that when he feels that he is the ultimate one in charge, he remembers that he is truly beholden to the mitzvot and to God, the “King of Kings.”
Finally, in this week’s Parsha, we are told that the Kohen Gadol should wear nice fancy clothes with beautiful adornments and colors. But this donning should be done with the greater goal in mind “to serve” God. (28:41)
The Megillah takes parshat HaMelekh and turns it on its head. As described by Rabbi David Silber, the Megillah uses the word rav to show that King Achashverosh did the opposite of what the Torah intended for the king. The root rav is found numerous times when describing the Persian Kingdom. The riches, the wine, the wives and the people for whom it was shown off to, were all rav and kol.
And King Achashverosh also has two books — two sefarim. One is the Book of Divrei Yamim of protocols of the King and the other is his Sefer Zichronot, the book to remember what he and he alone has done as ruler.
And yes, we learn of beautiful colors, fabrics and adornments in the Kingdom of Achashverosh. But they are not there to serve a higher purpose, they are simply presented in order to “show off the richness and glory of his Kingdom.” (1:4)
Esther and Mordechai lived in Achashverosh's world of selfishness and haughtiness, which makes it all the more remarkable how they stood up with strength and courage for something much bigger than themselves.
The message is clear. Material blessing is only a blessing if it is viewed with humility and a knowledge that it comes along with the directive of generosity and responsibility. And, at the same time, it can be “the world’s curse” if it is only used for self absorption and personal gain.
Thank you to Kinneret Day School 8th Graders who shared their insights with me on this learning.
The older I get, the more wisdom I find in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Over the mid-winter break, I had the opportunity to watch “Miracle of Miracles” the documentary about the world wide popularity and timeless messages behind the Broadway hit.
One of my favorite lines by Tevye in the film is his retort to his future son-in-law Perchik about wealth:
Perchik:Money is the world's curse.
Tevye:May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover.
The Lord certainly “smites” kings and many leaders with riches and great wealth. The Torah recognizes this reality, and the Megillah uses the Torah’s language to teach an important contrast.
In what is known as parshat HaMelekh (Devarim Ch. 17) the Torah recognizes that Kings will be tempted to overdo their wealth and abuse their power. We are told that Kings should not amass too many wives or too many horses, lo yarbeh. Their possessions should be limited.
We are also told that Kings should keep a book, a sefer, with them at all times. This book, the Torah, is to be read by the King in order so that when he feels that he is the ultimate one in charge, he remembers that he is truly beholden to the mitzvot and to God, the “King of Kings.”
Finally, in this week’s Parsha, we are told that the Kohen Gadol should wear nice fancy clothes with beautiful adornments and colors. But this donning should be done with the greater goal in mind “to serve” God. (28:41)
The Megillah takes parshat HaMelekh and turns it on its head. As described by Rabbi David Silber, the Megillah uses the word rav to show that King Achashverosh did the opposite of what the Torah intended for the king. The root rav is found numerous times when describing the Persian Kingdom. The riches, the wine, the wives and the people for whom it was shown off to, were all rav and kol.
And King Achashverosh also has two books — two sefarim. One is the Book of Divrei Yamim of protocols of the King and the other is his Sefer Zichronot, the book to remember what he and he alone has done as ruler.
And yes, we learn of beautiful colors, fabrics and adornments in the Kingdom of Achashverosh. But they are not there to serve a higher purpose, they are simply presented in order to “show off the richness and glory of his Kingdom.” (1:4)
Esther and Mordechai lived in Achashverosh's world of selfishness and haughtiness, which makes it all the more remarkable how they stood up with strength and courage for something much bigger than themselves.
The message is clear. Material blessing is only a blessing if it is viewed with humility and a knowledge that it comes along with the directive of generosity and responsibility. And, at the same time, it can be “the world’s curse” if it is only used for self absorption and personal gain.
and as I get older, I realize how meaningless are all of the material possessions we accumulate over the years...Marbeh N'chasim, Marbeh Da'agah
ReplyDelete