Hadassah or Esther? Esther, the hero of the Purim story, had two different names. The verse (Esther 2:7) states: "And he {Mordechai} raised Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter." She had two names because she had a double identity. She was called Hadassah, which means myrtle because she was righteous (and the myrtle is a metaphor for righteousness). Her Hebrew name was Esther, which means concealment because she concealed her Jewish identity while in the palace of Achashverush. Others say that Esther is a Persian name Istahar, which means (Venus). The name Esther represents the ability to blend into Persian society and live the life of a Persian queen, yet simultaneously live a secret life as a Jewess loyal to her people. A fundamental Kabalsitic principle is that every phenomenon on this earth reflects the spiritual reality on high. The Kabbalists explain that Esther represents the attribute of Malchut, kingship, of the Divine world of Atzilut (the world of Emanation), which is the energy that descends to give life to the three lower worlds (creation, formation, and action). Like Esther, Malchut, the final attribute of Atzilut lives a double life. While in Atzilut it is in an environment of absolute Divine reality, where it senses that G-dliness is the only existence, and there is no other independent reality. However, Malchut, while in Atzilut, is the source of all miracles. Yet, like Esther, Malchut conceals its identity, hides its awareness, and descends to create the lower worlds, where the truth of Atzilut is disguised. The three lower worlds, while receiving their energy and life flow from Malchut of Atzilut, are oblivious to the reality of Atzilut, because Malchut conceals the Hadassah, and expresses the Esther. The same is true about the Jewish soul (rooted in Malchut of Atzilut). When the soul descends to this world, its true identity, its passion for G-d and perspective on reality is concealed. Like Esther in the Persian palace, like Malchus of Atzilut in the three lower worlds, the soul hides the Hadasah, her core, and expresses only the Esther. Purim is the time when we learn to see beneath the mask and beyond the concealment. The story of Purim demonstrates that the person we thought was Esther was Hadassh all along. While it seemed that G-d's presence was gone, in reality, G-d was present all along, orchestrating the events leading to salvation. The Divine energy of Atzilut descended into the lower worlds, yet retained its connection to Atzilut. Thus, the Purim miracle was a miracle clothed within nature. Similarly, Purim, is the time when we unmask our own personal inner Esther. On Purim we realize the double reality of our soul, not only the Esther part which we feel in our conscious mind, which comes through the mask's concealment, but Hadassah, the essence of our soul, whose love to G-d is boundless. On Purim we experience the core of our soul, which leads to unlimited joy. (Adapted from Lekutei Sichos 16 Purim sicha 1)
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