More Discussions for this daf
1. Mordechai's lineage 2. Chasam Sofer Cited in the Point by Point 3. Hash-m cries for those who learn but bear no fruit
4. Waiters, Shiras Ha'azinu 5. The Forty-Letter Name of Hash-m 6. Vashti
7. The feast of Achashverosh. 8. Reason for decree 9. Vashti
10. Vessels of the Temple 11. ביטוי 12. Waiters, Shiras Ha'azinu
DAF DISCUSSIONS - MEGILAH 12

Shabtai Nachshons asked:

1) In Meschata Taanis daf Hah amod beit , it says that Hash-m cries for people who don't learn Torah and for people who learn but no fruits come out from them. How this reconcile with Perek Avos "Vav" ?

2) In Mischata Migillah, we see that Mordechai participated in the king party by serving the people ( with Haman) , but in other places we are told that Mordechai refused to participate in the banquet and warn the Jewish from attending the party?

Did he participated in the party or not? If he acted as the Mashkiah making sure that the food were kosher and behaviour were according to Torah rules , then why they were punished ( the people attending the banquet)?

3) According to the Gemarah ( Rebbi S.Bar Yochai) Ham Yisrael were punished because they bow down to status of the king . This was not mentioned any where else ? What was actually their down-fall causing their punishment?

The Kollel replies:

1) Hash-m cries for one who is able to learn Torah and produce fruits thereby, but who does not produce fruits because he does not learn l'Shem Shamayim (see also Chagigah 5b, "For three people Hash-m cries...").

2) Mordechai is described in the Megilah as "sitting in the gate of the king," meaning that he was one of the king's attendants. Likewise, Haman was one of the king's attendants as well. When the Gemara says that they were serving wine, it means that they were serving wine to the king -- Haman wanted to make him drunk in order to fulfill his scheme of rising in power (see Malbim), and Mordechai wanted to make hjim drunk in order to arouse Hash-m's mercy on His nation.

However, the simple understanding of the Gemara is that Mordechai and Haman were the head wine masters for everyone at the banquet (see Me'am Lo'ez). According to this understanding, Mordechai was attempting to save the Jewish people at the banquet from sinning by drinking wine from a Nochri (EINEI SHMUEL). He did not participate in the banquet himself, nor did he condone the Jews' participation there, and he probably tried to persuade each Jew to leave as he served them. That is why they were still punished for attending the banquet, since they did not listen to Mordechai's rebuke.

3) See our Insights to Megilah 12:1.