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Why does the Megillah's message—that women should respect their husbands—supersede Torah (תורה) study and Temple service? The Baal HaTurim links three occurrences of "v'nishma" (the Kohen's bells, Na'aseh V'nishma, and Achashverosh's decree) to show that family unity is foundational. Families are the "cells" where children learn selflessness; without functional, giving families, there is no nation—and thus no Torah or Avodah.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes a profound insight from the Baal HaTurim connecting Parshas Tetzaveh to the central message of Megillas Esther. The shiur opens with the Torah (תורה)'s description of the Me'il (the robe of the Kohen Gadol) which had bells at its hem. The pasuk states "v'nishma kolo"—"its sound shall be heard"—when the Kohen enters the sanctuary. The Baal HaTurim observes that the word "v'nishma" appears only three times in Tanach: here in Tetzaveh (representing Temple service), at Sinai when the Jewish people declared "Na'aseh V'nishma" (representing Torah), and in Megillas Esther when Achashverosh's decree states "v'nishma pisgam hamelech"—the king's edict shall be heard throughout the realm (representing the message that wives should honor their husbands). The Megillah itself declares "ki raba hi"—this message is of paramount importance. The Baal HaTurim derives from this that the reading of the Megillah supersedes both Torah study and Temple service, because the third "v'nishma"—the family message—is labeled "raba," the most important. This raises a fundamental question: how can a directive about domestic respect be more important than Torah and Avodah?
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Tetzaveh (Shemos 28:35), Megillas Esther 1:16-20, 9:28
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