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Celebrate Good Times?

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Celebrate Good Times?
KG
ByKoby Geller
אסתר ט׳:ט״ז-י״ז
(טז) וּשְׁאָ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ נִקְהֲל֣וּ ׀ וְעָמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְנ֙וֹחַ֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָרֹג֙ בְּשֹׂ֣נְאֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם׃ (יז) בְּיוֹם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֑ר וְנ֗וֹחַ בְּאַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ בּ֔וֹ וְעָשֹׂ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃
Esther 9:16-17
(16) And the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand—but on the spoil they laid not their hand—. (17) on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
1. Why are the Jewish people celebrating here?
2. Is this a proper response to defeating ones enemy?
3. How would you celebrate this victory?

סנהדרין קיג:

תנו רבנן: רשע בא לעולם - חרון בא לעולם, שנאמר בבוא רשע בא גם בוז ועם קלון חרפה, רשע אבד מן העולם - טובה באה לעולם, שנאמר ובאבד רשעים רנה.

Sanhedrin 113b

Our Rabbis taught: When the wicked enter the world, wrath enters therein, for it is written, When the wicked come, then comes also contempt, and with embarrassment, reproach. When the wicked perish from the world, good comes to the world, as it is written, And when the wicked perish, there is exultation.

  1. What are our Rabbis trying to teach us here?
  2. What do you believe they mean by a wicked person here? How do we determine this?
  3. What does it mean for us to celebrate or be happy when they die?
  4. What kind of message is this for us today?

סנהדרין לט:

ואמר רבייונתן: מפני מה לא נאמר בהודאה זו כי טוב - לפי שאין הקדוש ברוך הוא שמחבמפלתן של רשעים, דאמר רבי שמואל בר נחמן אמר רבי יונתן: מאי דכתיב ולאקרב זה אל זה כל הלילה, באותה שעה בקשו מלאכי השרת לומר שירה לפניהקדוש ברוך הוא, אמר להן הקדוש ברוך הוא: מעשה ידי טובעין בים ואתם אומריםשירה לפני?

Sanhedrin 39b

R. Jonathan asked: Why are the words, He is good omitted from this expression of thanks? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, does not rejoice in the downfall of the wicked. For R. Samuel b. Nahman said in R. Jonathan's name: What is meant by, And one approached not the other all night? In that hour the ministering angels wished to utter the song [of praise] before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He rebuked them, saying: My handiwork [the Egyptians] is drowning in the sea; would ye utter song before me!

  1. Does this text contradict what we read earlier?
  2. What is the point of stopping the Angels from singing?
  3. Do you feel like this answer is better than the first piece from Sanhedrin?