Portion of the Portion

The Queen

Purim is upon us and we see so many people dressed up - some like animals, some like people from current events and some even characters from the Megila. There are a number of characters in the story - the king Achashveirosh, 2 queens - Esther and Vashti, the viceroy Haman, the hero Mordechai and others.

In the Megila we are confronted with 2 queens - Vashti & Esther. But when reading the Megila we can ask ourselves what is the purpose of the whole story about Vashti losing her position as queen? Why did the Megila have to tell us all the details about how the king wanted her to come B’KETER MALCHUT, she refused and then the King got rid of her? Why couldn’t the story have started with Achashveirosh being alone - needing a new queen and the suggestion of how to find one?

But the story is very important. It sets the background to the story of Esther. If we look closely we can see that the word MALKA - queen - plays a very significant role in the story of Vashti. We are told that VASHTI HAMALKA - Vashti the queen - makes a party (1:9). Vashti herself was from a royal family, while Achashveirosh was not.

So Acashveirosh was not so quick to replace Vashti. He didn’t want to have the same problem as before. But his advisor’s gave him a good idea. Let his new wife be a simple girl without any royal lineage. Then Achashveirosh wouldn’t have any problem of authority in his house. Of course, the king loved this idea and went searching just such a girl to put in Vashti’s place.

For that reason, Esther does not tell her origins. We always learned that it was because she didn’t want anyone to know that she was Jewish. But there was another reason. She didn’t want Achashveirosh to know that she was a descendant of Shaul HaMelech - King Saul - that she was royalty. That she had to hide.

One must read the megila closely to see that the word MALKA is not used in accordance with Esther’s name at the beginning. Even at her coronation she is just referred to as Esther (2:18). But when she is alone or talking to Mordechai she is referred to as HAMALKA, since they alone her true ancestry.
But then comes the time that she must reveal her true identity to Achashveirosh as Mordechai tells her - IM L’EIT KAZOT HIGAAT LAMALCHUT - if for this reason you have been placed in the palace. Esther must not fear to act like the queen that she really is - until she adorns herself in royalty, VATILBASH ESTEIR MALCHUT (5:1) and begins to live up to her genes. When she starts acting like the queen she is, Achashveirosh treats her like a queen and the verse says VAYHI KIR-OT HAMELECH ET ESTEIR HAMALKA - when the king saw Esther the queen (5:2).

Esther takes the opportunity and uses all her qualities to act. May we all follow in her path and know how to use our full potentials in every situation.

HERE IS A RECIPE from a queen. Legend has it that this is the only recipe that Queen Elizabeth would bake on her own in her own kitchen. The recipe is not to be given away but is always to be sold for charitable causes. Since on Purim we have a mitzva to give charity (and don’t even check the validity of those requesting) this cake is appropriate for Purim .

QUEEN ELIZABETH CAKE
1 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
1 tsp. salt`````````````````
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup nuts
1 cup boiling water
1 cup chopped dates
1 tsp. baking soda

Pour the boiling water over the chopped dates and baking soda and let stand while mixing the other ingredients. Then combine both mixtures and bake for 35 minutes at 350F (175C) in a 9x12 inch pan.

ICING:
5 Tbsp. brown sugar
5 Tbsp. cream
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
Boil ingredients for 3 minutes and spread on cake. Add nuts or coconut, if desired.

• Other Portion of the Portion
• TODA - HAGOMEL
• When Kings Sin
• The Center Crossbar of Chesed