Layehudim hayta ora: For the Jews there was great light
Transliteration
Layehudim hayta ora
Layehudim hayta ora
Layehudim hayta ora
Vesimcha vesasson vi-kar
(Esther 8:16)
Translation
For the Jews there was great light and joy and happiness and reverence
Audio
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Layehudim hayta ora: For the Jews there was great light
Background
This famous verse from the Book of Esther says “To the Jews there was light, gladness, joy and honor.” After having survived a threat of annihilation, our ancestors found reason to celebrate, and rightly so. Ora - light symbolizes our search for the qualities of happiness, the qualities of light and gladness, which happen in all times, not just in times of distress. That is why the verse is part of the Havdallah service each Saturday night, as we say good-bye to Shabbat and welcome the new week. Each week we pray for the opportunity that we will experience light and joy, gladness and honor.
Ora- what does it mean that the Jews had light? On Purim Mordechai is restored to a position of nobility, and the Jewish people once again have light, the light of Torah has been restored, the honor of Torah has been restored. Ultimately instead of facing destruction the Jewish people survive, and are allowed to resume construction of the Second Temple.
Purim is not only the celebration of our survival and triumph over Haman, but rather the eternal splendor , joy and divine light that the Torah’s wisdom can bring to our lives. Purim is a manifestation of the overwhelming joy of basking in the light that is Torah, the wisdom and inspiration that allows us to bring the light of the divine into our world.
compiled from various sources, not neccesarily from Reb Shlomo
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