Commentary for Megillah 32:8
(אסתר ח, טז) ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר אמר רב יהודה אורה זו תורה וכן הוא אומר (משלי ו, כג) כי נר מצוה ותורה אור שמחה זה יום טוב וכן הוא אומר (דברים טז, יד) ושמחת בחגך ששון זו מילה וכן הוא אומר (תהלים קיט, קסב) שש אנכי על אמרתך
“The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor” (Esther 8:16). Rav Judah said: “Light” means the Torah, and so it says, “For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah is a light” (Proverbs 6:23). “Gladness” means a festival day; and so it says, “And you shall be glad on your festival” (Deuteronomy 16:14). “Joy” means circumcision; and so it says, “I rejoice at Your word” (Psalms 119:162).
Rashi on Megillah
"Light" - this is Torah: As Haman decreed against them, that they not occupy themselves with Torah [study].
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Rashi on Megillah
This is the Festivals: They observed festivals about them.
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Rashi on Megillah
This is circumcision: And he made decrees against all of these [things].
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Rashi on Megillah
Your utterance: This is circumcision, that was given with saying, and not with speech: "And God said to Avraham, 'You shall keep My covenant'" (Genesis 17:9). And we have found that David was gladdened by it, as it is stated (in Psalms 6), "For the choirmaster, upon the sheminit (an eight-stringed lyre, but here taken as a reference to circumcision which happens on the eighth day)" - when he was in the bathhouse and he saw himself without Torah and without commandments; when (he gazed) at the circumcision, he was gladdened.
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