Taanit Esther

This week is Purim week. We begin with Taanit Esther on Monday, Purim celebrated in most of the world on Tuesday, and Shushan Purim on Wednesday. The Fast of Esther is extremely significant in terms of the turning point of the Purim story. Not only did Esther convince the entire Jewish people to fast for three days. And not only did she prevail upon everyone to do serious Teshuva. But the most significant aspect of Esther’s heroism, is how she was able to create Jewish unity. The Megillah tells us that Esther instructed Mordechai, לך כנוס את היהודים, “Go and gather the Jews.” She was speaking of uniting all of the Jews. On two other occasions, the Megillah uses a form of the words, נקהלו היהודים, that the Jews united themselves. So we see how the message of Taanit Esther is threefold. We see the importance of fasting and doing Teshuva, but we also see the importance of Jewish unity in overturning evil decrees against us.