11 Mar FROM SHUSHAN TO GAZA

“Though I walk through the valley
overshadowed by death, I feel no harm, for
You are with me.” (Tehillim 23:4)
“Va’tilokach Esther, And Esther was taken”.
(Esther 2:8). Esther was taken to the harem
of King Achashverosh. There, she met the
“women of the harem”, all competing to be
the next queen. They were offered all types
of creams and treatments – the ultimate spa
experience – but Esther would have none of
that. She didn’t want to do anything that
would increase her chance of being chosen
queen. But, as we know, HaShem is in
control, and Esther was crowned.
What Esther did request was to have “sheva
ha’naaros ha’r’ooyoss”, seven personal
attendants, special handmaids, from the
palace assigned to her. (Esther 2:9). This was
not a random request. Yaaros Devash
explains that each one was designated for a
different day of the week. This helped Esther
keep track of the days, enabling her to know
when it was Shabbos.
To keep Shabbos. No matter what the

circumstances. Shabbos was Shabbos, be it
in her home with Mordechai, the harem, or
the palace. She tenaciously clung to her
beliefs, Torah, mitzvos, her G-d. Besides
observing Shabbos, Esther was careful
regarding kashrus, existing on a diet of
beans, lentils, peas, citrons, nuts and seeds.
Additionally, she did her utmost to avoid the
idols that filled the palace.
Chazal teach that the name Esther is from
Istahar, meaning like a beautiful star. Esther
is also derived from the word hester, meaning
concealed, for at first she kept her true
identity as a Jew hidden.
Esther was also known as Hadassah,
meaning myrtle. The myrtle is an evergreen,
maintaining its bright green hue throughout
the year. Like an evergreen, Esther was
committed to a Torah life, each and every
day, no matter the situation.
The myrtle has a most fragrant scent, while
at the same time is bitter to taste. This, too, is
symbolic of Esther’s strength. She was able
to be fragrant in her observance of mitzvos,
while at the same time, like the bitter tasting
leaf, stand strong and tough, when the time
came to confront Haman.

Mordechai, too, lived his life as
a proud Jew. The Megillah
introduces him as Mordechai
HaYehudi. “Ish Yehudi hayah
b’Shushan HaBirah, There was
a Jewish man in Shushan, the
capitol.” (Esther 2:5) Even in
the metropolis of Shushan,
Mordechai didn’t feel the need
to hide his identity, and walked
about as an identifiable Jew.
Furthermore, he didn’t cave in
to Haman’s demands, refusing
to bow down to him.
Esther and Mordechai not only forged a path
for us to follow, but their spiritual DNA has
been passed down through the ages. A DNA
that has given our people the inner strength
to withstand those who want to harm us and
to confront the evil forces that gather against
us.
Today, we have an emergence of many
courageous individuals walking in the path
Esther and Mordechai, , clinging to their
Yiddishkeit in the darkest and most brutal of
circumstances. Amongst the hostages and
their families, there has been a new powerful
connect between them and a Torah life.
Omer Shem-Tov, is a twenty-two year-old
who went to Nova for a day of music,
dancing and fun. All this suddenly changed
when the festival was attacked by terrorists.
Omer was able to escape, but returned to
help his friends Itai and Maya Regev,
brother and sister. The three were taken
hostage. Itai and Maya were released in the
initial November deal. Omer remained
captive for 505 days. He was subject to
physical and psychological abuse,
prolonged isolation and starvation.
While not observant, Omer turned to
HaShem in captivity. When Itai was
released, he spoke of how he and Omer
longed for a Shabbat dinner. Miraculously,
one of the terrorists gave them a half-filled
bottle of grape juice. They counted the
days. Every Friday night, they covered
their heads with toilet paper (for lack of
anything else). Omer would recite Kiddush,
and they would sip a little grape juice. A
ritual Omer continued, even after Itai’s
release. Omer said the grape juice lasted
and lasted…. Like the oil of the menorah
that kept on burning and burning.
At night, the electric would often be cut
off. Pitch black. At times, the captors would
give Omer a flashlight. While he used it on
weeknights, come Friday night – leil
Shabbos – Omer refrained from using it. To
the best of his ability, Omer kept Shabbos.
During the time of his captivity, Omer’s

mother, Shelly, paved her own path
connecting to HaShem by keeping Shabbos.
She said about her son, Omer, “They took
his freedom, but they couldn’t take his soul.”

Keith Siegel, a sixty-five year-old American-
Israeli, was held in captivity for 484 days.

He tells of being given moldy pita bread,
unfit for human consumption. Of being
forcefully kicked in the ribs, spat upon, and
called a dog for no reason.
It was under these deplorable conditions that
Keith found strength by connecting to
HaShem. Each day, he said the only prayers
he remembered from his youth, Shema
Yisroel, and the brocha of hamotzi. When he
returned, Keith spoke about the terrorists
trying to convince him that Islam was the
true religion. He refused to listen, and
became stronger in his faith. Upon being
reunited with his family, his wife asked what
he would like for a Shabbat dinner. He asked
for two things, “a yarmulke and a Kiddush
cup”.
Ohad ben Ami, a fifty-six year-old hostage,
was freed after 16 months in captivity. He
returned gaunt and frail. He said “I really felt
that there was Someone Above watching
over me. What unites us is faith in G-d. Only
faith gives us strength at times when we feel
crushed.”
Ohad’s request…. To learn how to make
havdallah.
This is just three. Three amongst many who
have made life changes since October 7,
creating a strong bond between them and
HaShem.
In this week’s parsha, we read of HaShem’s
instructing Moshe to tell Bnei Yisroel,
“Observe my Shabbos, for it is a sign
between Me and you for all generations.”
For all generations, whether in the palace of
Achashverosh or the tunnels of Gaza, the
sign is ever present.
As we sing in the Shabbos zemiros, “Ki
eshmerah Shabbos, Keil yishmereini, If I
will safeguard the Shabbos, HaShem will
safeguard me.” A promise from HaShem to
His beloved people.