The Megillah is filled with hidden miracles--and with so many hidden lessons. We would like to bring one of those lessons to the fore, with the following story related by a rabbi from Brooklyn, who heard it directly from Rebbetzin Kanievsky, Shtichye, when he was in Bnei Brak about a month ago.
Approximately eight years ago, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita, was studying Mesechta Chullin, and was learning a sugya relating to Chagovim, or grasshoppers. HaRav Kanievsky realized that he needed to see a grasshopper to better understand the Gemara (apparently he had never seen a live grasshopper before) and asked his daughter to bring him one. She tried, but reported to her father that she failed to find one. He went back to the sugya, and lo and behold a grasshopper comes hopping through the window, landing on his Gemara. After examining it, he let it go. As he continued through the sugya, he realized that he needed to study the hind legs a bit more, but the grasshopper was long gone. Before closing his Gemara, a second grasshopper hopped in and on to his Gemara, giving him the ability to study its hind leg in detail.
The story continues. Two months ago, a Rav giving a shiur in Bnei Brak criticized the tales people tell about Gedolim, explaining that the stories cannot all be true, and sound silly. As a case in point, he brought the ma’aseh of HaRav Kanievsky and the grasshoppers, viewing it as ridiculous and leading people to the wrong conclusions regarding HaRav Kanievsky, who, after all, learns Torah like everyone else. After the Shiur--you guessed it--the Maggid Shiur went home and found his house infested with grasshoppers (in the same Bnei Brak that Rav Kanievsky’s daughter--seeking to fulfill the Mitzva of Kibud Av--could not find one). He tried for three days to rid his home of the insects, but could not. Someone suggested that he go to Rav Kanievsky--and ask for mechila. He approached Rav Kanievsky and told him what had happened. Rav Kanievsky laughed, saying that he did not need his mechila at all, as the grasshoppers could have come to anybody (after all, the window was open!), and he was certainly mochel him, if he needed it. The Maggid went home--and the grasshoppers were gone!
As we review and study the Megillah, we must remember who Mordechai and Esther really were--not players in a story, but Gedolei Yisroel whose very thoughts, words and actions were entirely imbued and thoroughly saturated with Mesirus Nefesh for Kavod Shomayim and Klal Yisroel. Their lives were not their own, they lived for a higher purpose. Look at the last seven words of the Megillah (Esther 10:3)--“Doresh Tov LeAmo VeDover Shalom LeChol Zaroh”--they are there not only for the sake of a nice ending--they are leaving us with a final, parting message after all is said and done. This is a lesson for all of us at all times. Our Gedolim are just not “ordinary” people. We must view them with the tremendous awe and respect they deserve; we must seek their advice and counsel--and we must follow what they say. Imagine what would have happened to our people without only two people--Mordechai and Esther--and look at what happened as a result of them--a result we are celebrating to this very day!
Let us look at our Gedolim as the Mordechais and Esthers of our generation--following their directives and teachings with reverence and joy--and may we, too, be zoche to Nissim as they were in those times--Bizman Hazeh!
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Important Numbers
