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13th of Adar — Fast of Esther

QUESTION: Why is the fast on the day before Purim called "Ta'anit Esther" — "the Fast of Esther"? (The three-day fast which Mordechai proclaimed upon Esther's request took place during Pesach, see Megillah 15a.)

ANSWER: Though Achashveirosh originally agreed to Haman's plan to kill all the Jews (young and old, little children and women, 3:13) on the 13th of Adar, he later instructed the Jews to defend themselves against the Persian armies. According to halachah, people defending themselves against enemies are forbidden to fast, so as not to weaken their strength (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 571:3). Consequently, on the 13th of Adar it was forbidden for any Jew to fast. Esther lived in the King's palace, and thus did not fear the armies. Hence, she was the only person able to fast while the Jewish people defended themselves against the Persians. Therefore, the day is known as Ta'anit Esther.

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"The students asked Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, 'Why were the Jews destined to be annihilated in the days of Achashveirosh?' He said to them, 'What is your opinion?' They replied, 'Because they derived pleasure (ate) from the meal of the wicked person.' " (Gemara, Megillah 12a)

QUESTION: According to Biblical Law, death is not the punishment for eating non-kosher?

ANSWER: The prophet Yirmeyahu prophesied that seventy years after the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash, Hashem would bring back the Jewish people from exile. According to Achashveirosh's calculation, the seventy year period had already passed, and since there was no redemption, Hashem had obviously, G-d forbid, forsaken His people. To celebrate his victory, he used the vessels of the Beit Hamikdash and arranged lavish festivities to which he invited everyone, including the Jewish people (Megillah 11b).

Their participating in this celebration was a declaration, in a sense, that they too rejoiced over the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Such behavior infuriated Hashem to the extent that he considered their annihilation, G-d forbid.

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Alternatively, the food and drink served to the Jews was strictly kosher, even according to the most stringent standards. Had the Gemara meant that their iniquity was the eating of the food, it would have written "she'achlu" — "because they ate from his meal." However, instead of attending the festivities reluctantly, with a sense of grief, "nehenu" — they had a sense of "pleasure" because they were accepted to Persian high society. Such behavior angered Hashem, to the extent that He considered annihilating the Jewish people, G-d forbid.

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Krepchen

QUESTION: Why do we eat "krepchen" (meat covered with dough) on Purim?

ANSWER: On Yom Tov it is forbidden to do any work (except food preparation), and it is a mitzvah to experience the utmost joy. Thus, it is customary to eat meat during Yom Tov, because it brings one into a joyous mood (see Shulchan Aruch HaRav 529:6).

On Purim, one must be joyous and refrain from doing work (Shulchan Aruch 696:1), but the prohibition is not the same as on other yamim tovim. Therefore, we eat meat in order to achieve a joyous mood, but because it is not a complete Yom Tov, we cover the meat with dough. (This also explains why krepchen are eaten on Erev Yom Kippur and Hosha'ana Rabbah.)