Sicha, Purim 5728
A. Two Nations in Your Womb – Rabbi Yehudah the Prince and Antoninus
Rabbi Yehudah the Prince lived in extraordinary wealth, and rare vegetables were always available at his table throughout the year. Yet, before his passing, he testified that he had derived no personal pleasure from this world at all. Tosafot point out the apparent contradiction and explain that the luxuries were served only to his guests. However, the Rebbe questions whether this explanation is sufficient. The honor, prestige, and status that come with wealth provide a person with tremendous psychological pleasure in their own right, sometimes even greater than the pleasure of eating.
B. One Can Indulge Without Enjoyment
The answer to this question can be learned from the Jews of Shushan. Their sin was not the act of eating itself, since the food was kosher, but rather that they “enjoyed” the feast of that wicked man. The problem was that they took pleasure in the sense of honor and pride that came from participating in the feast.
In other words, had they participated and eaten the delicacies, but with a different intention, such as gaining an opportunity to see the vessels of the Holy Temple, there would have been no problem.
C. Golden Vessels and Self-Denial in the Forest
The Rebbe Maharash provides an example of this balance. Outwardly, he lived with royal grandeur, using golden vessels and traveling in a horse-drawn carriage. However, an accidental remark by a non-Jewish coachman revealed that, in private, the Rebbe would travel to the forest, sit and cry while ants bit him. This demonstrates that his outward displays of wealth were solely for the sake of Heaven and brought him no personal pleasure.
The Rebbe concludes that every Jew deserves the greatest possible abundance and luxury, but must know how to use it properly.
