Coming Together

The Gemorah in Megilah (13b) says Hashem knew that that Haman would give shekalim to Achashverosh, therefore he gave us a mitzvah of shekalim to counter the shekalim of Haman.  How do our shekalim overturn the shekalim of Haman?  And why do we need shekalim to overturn Haman’s decree?  Why is the name of Mordechai hinted to in the list of the ketores, mor dror-Mordechai (Chulin 139b?)  What is the connection between Mordechai and the ketores?  The Gemorah (16b) says that when Haman went to get Mordechai to lead him around the city in the royal garments, Haman found Mordechai teaching the laws of kemitza.  Rashi explains since it was the sixteenth of Nissan, the day of the offering of the omer, he was teaching how to do the kemitza of the korban omer.  Haman proclaimed that your kemitza is causing my downfall.  Why is it the merit of the kemitza that causes the downfall of Haman?

Achashverosh wasn’t so keen on killing out an entire nation from his kingdom.  Haman assuaged his concerns because klal yisroel is scattered among the nations and their absence won’t be noticed (13b).  This explanation of עם מפוזר ומפורד, wasn’t just to calm Achashverosh, it was why Haman thought he could be successful.  We are strong when united but fall when divided.  Haman noticed a lack of unity amongst us.  (See the Maharal on the verse (3:8) yeshnu am echad why the word yeshnu is used as opposed to yesh, to indicate separation, for the hey and nun don’t combine with any other number to complete a unite of ten or hundred.)  And that was why he sensed he could be successful in his attempt of annihilation. 

 The antidote to Haman was through the unification of klal yisroel.  The Alshich explains that we give a half shekel to recognize that you need someone else to complete you.  The shekalim show the achdus of klal yisroel and therefore they are able to counteract the actions of Haman.  The kemitza demonstrated achdus as well.  Rav Yosef Engel (Otzros Yosef 4,4) explains that a kmetiza is made up of two zeisim and is combined in the hand.  The combination of many parts symbolizes the unification of the many bodies of klal yisroel.  He adds that it was the kemitza of the omer, offered on Pesach, represented by Avraham, who taught יחוד השם to the world.  He suggests that’s why meshloach manos is two items united in the givers hand. 

The ketores had the power to include the chelbana.  The chelbana smells bad and represents the sinners that are included together with the rest of klal yisroel.  That’s why Mordechai is represented by the ketores for he was the leader to bring klal yisroel together to avert the evil decree of Haman.  The end of the Megillah reflects the unity achieved by klal yisroel, as the Gra points out kimmu ve’kiblu hayihudim is said in a singular terminology.  Klal yisroel become united and reaccepted the Torah together.