The Talmud [Megilla
14a] discusses the reason that Hallel is not said during Purim.
The first explanation is that Hallel
is not recited for a miracle which took place outside the Land of Israel. This explanation obviously stresses the
importance of Eretz Yisrael. Even commemorating a miracle of the Diaspora must
remind us of the primacy of the Land of Israel.
Rava’s opinion is that Hallel cannot be said
on Purim because it would not be accurate. Hallel includes the verse “Give
praise, servants of the Lord…” [Psalms 113:1], and even after the salvation of
Purim, the Jews remained servants of Ahasuerus.
Those of us
privileged to live in Jerusalem celebrate Shushan Purim, on the fifteenth of
Adar, a day later than most places. In fact, any city that was walled at the
time of the conquest of Israel by Joshua and the Tribes of Israel celebrates
Shushan Purim.
Rabbi Kook commented that those who recognize the
criterion of the days of Joshua cannot remain servants of Ahasuerus.
Rabbi Uzi Kalcheim explained Rabbi Kuk’s
comment: The Jerusalem Talmud teaches us that the criterion of the days of
Joshua (while the logical criterion should be any city walled at the time of
Esther and Mordechai) was chosen to honor the Land of Israel. Those, who at the
peak of their success in the Diaspora, remember the Holy Land and “raise it
above their chiefest joy” [Psalms 137:6] cannot remain servants of Ahasuerus;
they will not accept their temporary success in exile, but will continually
pray from the depths of their hearts for the return to Zion, for the “sons to
return to their borders.” [Jeremiah 31:16]
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