Haman almost had the Jews where he wanted them. His offer of 10,000 shekels to Achashverosh was so powerful, it was almost enough to guarantee he would be successful.
But he wasn't. Why not? Because the Jews had also been giving shekels. They were donating their coins for the rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdosh (Temple) in Jerusalem. The power of their shekels overcame that of Haman's.
This Talmudic insight seems a bit confusing. Why would you even think that his attempt at buying the right to kill a nation would have any value before God, that we need to sigh with relief that the Jews had given their shekels and so overcome Haman's power?
The answer lies in the power of determination. Haman's readiness to hand over such a fortune in order to carry out his genocidal plans demonstrates that he was ready to stop at nothing in order to see his ambition fulfilled. Such will power carries much weight.
The task of Amalek, the nation of Haman, has always been to rob this type of will power from the Jewish nation. That is why they attacked the Jews in the desert at a time when they were weak and lacking determination. He can sense when our resolve is weakened and ratches up his own in an attempt to overwhelm us.
It was only the consistent giving of shekels by the Jews over the course of hundreds of years which demonstrated our sense of determination and not giving up, even in exile, that overcame Haman's resolve.
There is a message in this for myself. When I embark on a project how determined am I? Do I push through with all my might and stubbornness to see to it that it gets done? Am I resolved not to let anything stop me? And if I am not, then what am I really trying to do?
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