The Depth of Divine Providence: From Vashti's Calculation of the End to the Self-Sacrifice of Shimi's Wife

Class No. 235 | Cassette No. 235 Wednesday, 20 Adar II 5760, Gathering of the Nanmach Group of Breslov Chassidim. Side A

This article reveals the secret of the Jewish calendar that was at the center of Achashverosh's feast, and explains why Vashti specifically needed the wisdom of the tribe of Yissachar. Through this, we can understand the power of Mordechai the Jew, who stood in the breach against accusations of extremism, and how he merited to descend from the lineage of Shimi ben Gera in the merit of the mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Shimi's righteous wife.

The entire essence of Achashverosh's feast was based on pride. If the Children of Israel had possessed true humility and lowliness, they would never have attended that feast at all. They could have easily appeased Achashverosh by claiming they were ill or busy with preparations for Pesach, since the feast began at the beginning of the month of Tishrei and lasted until right before the holiday of Pesach.

The feast did not begin on the first of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah, because royal parties are not held on such days. Achashverosh knew that Jews from all over the world—ministers, members of parliament, and Jewish prime ministers—would not be able to participate on Rosh Hashanah. Therefore, no world leader would launch an international royal feast on Rosh Hashanah, and the feast only began on the third of Tishrei (or the second of Tishrei, before the second festival day of the Diaspora was established).

The Secret of the Leap Year and the Calendars of the Nations

Calculating one hundred and eighty days from the third of Tishrei brings us to the third of Nissan. This is where Vashti entered the picture with a very specific demand. She wanted the conclusion of the feast to fall exactly on the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of her father, Belshazzar, who was killed on the night of the Passover Seder, the fifteenth of Nissan. She calculated that if they established eight 'lacking' (twenty-nine-day) months, the date would shift and align perfectly with the fifteenth of Nissan.

To accomplish this, they summoned the members of the tribe of Yissachar, about whom it is said, 'who possessed understanding of the times.' Vashti demanded that they arrange the calendar so that the feast's conclusion would fall exactly on the night of the Seder. When it was suggested that she use the Babylonian or Persian calendar, she adamantly refused. She knew that the calendars of the nations are constantly shifting and unstable. The month of Ramadan, for example, falls sometimes in the summer and sometimes in the winter, with its timing constantly changing based on various arbitrary decisions.

During that era, the calendars of the nations were completely chaotic. Until the time of Octavian (Augustus), who standardized the solar year about sixty-three years before the destruction of the Second Temple, years were counted based on events in the lives of kings. If a king won a war, had a son, or married a new wife, they would start counting the years all over again. As a result, there could be two 'New Years' in a single year, and the months were constantly shifting. Vashti had a clear demand: she wanted the Jewish calendar, which is perfectly organized and precise, harmonizing both the solar and lunar years. Only in this way could she guarantee that the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) would fall at the exact right time.

Mordechai the Extremist and the Holiness of the Covenant

When Mordechai argued that it was forbidden to attend the feast, everyone turned against him. The moment Mordechai declared that they must not go to the feast, everyone said: 'Mordechai is an extremist! Mordechai is Shuvu Banim! He is a person who takes things to the extreme.' People always place the blame on the tzaddikim and the God-fearing. It is just like how they blame us, 'Shuvu Banim,' for everything that happens in the world. If fourteen churches are blown up, they immediately claim that Shuvu Banim did it, accusing us of hoarding explosives and weapons caches. They fabricate such severe libels that you shouldn't be surprised if one day they take everyone away in handcuffs. But the absolute truth is that Mordechai was right.

Reb Noson of Breslov explains that their attendance at the feast stemmed from the spiritual blemish of pride. If they had possessed true bittul (self-nullification) to Mordechai, nullifying themselves to the true tzaddik, they would never have gone to the feast in the first place. It is impossible to attain true humility unless a person draws upon himself asceticism and the holiness of the covenant. Conversely, one cannot attain the holiness of the covenant except through humility. Mordechai was the holiest person of his generation, and his profound holiness was drawn directly from the asceticism of Moshe Rabbeinu, peace be upon him.

How Did Shimi ben Gera Merit to Have Mordechai as a Descendant?

Haman's power stemmed from the fact that King Saul had misplaced mercy on Agag. In contrast, King David showed mercy to Shimi ben Gera. The Megillah traces Mordechai's lineage back to Shimi: 'A Benjaminite... the son of Shimi, the son of Kish.' This raises a glaring question: How did Shimi, who was a wicked evildoer, merit to have such a holy descendant? After all, Shimi came out to confront King David during his darkest and most difficult hour, cursing him vehemently, throwing stones at him, and pelting him with dust, as the verse states:

'And Shimi went along the hillside opposite him, walking and cursing, and he threw stones opposite him and cast dust' (II Samuel 16:13).

What did this Shimi do to merit having such an illustrious descendant born to him dozens of generations later? The Midrash in Yalkut Shimoni reveals a tremendous secret: It was all in the merit of his righteous wife.

In the Merit of Righteous Women: Saving the Spies

When Avshalom rebelled against King David, David sent two loyal spies—Achimaatz the son of Tzadok and Yehonatan the son of Evyatar—to bring him word that he must flee immediately across the Jordan River, as Achitophel had advised Avshalom to capture him right away. Avshalom discovered this, and his men began pursuing the spies relentlessly.

The spies desperately needed to find a hiding place. Everyone recognized them, and no one dared to offer them shelter out of sheer terror of Avshalom. In whose house did they finally manage to hide? In the home of Shimi ben Gera!

At that exact moment, Shimi had left the house to pursue King David and curse him. Divine Providence orchestrated it so that Shimi would not be home, leaving only his wife, who was a truly righteous woman. She decided to risk her own life with mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice). Using her ingenuity, she hid the spies inside the well in their courtyard, spreading ground grain over the top to camouflage the hiding spot. In the merit of the mesiras nefesh of Shimi's wife, who saved the messengers of King David, Shimi merited that his lineage would produce Mordechai the Jew, the savior of the Jewish people.

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