The Irony in Between the Lines of the Megillah

In honor of the "Mind-Blowing"clip from our Megillot class that was  featured in the Gala dinner video, I decided to reflect on what we learned then, which continues to tie into what we are learning now. In the time after the Coresh declaration, when the Jews were allowed to re-enter Israel and rebuild the Beit Hamikdash, there was a major disappointment with this great news- many Jews did not return, and instead decided to stay where they were in the diaspora.  At this time, Yirmiyahu tells the people that after the exile, they should return to Israel (Habirah) and an Ish Yehudi will guide them. This fact becomes instrumental to our understanding of Megillat Esther. In the Megillah, Shushan is referred to as "Shushan Habirah," and Moredechai as "Ish Yehudi". This is the text's way of not-so-subtly hinting that something is wrong with this picture. Why is the Ish Yehudi not in Israel? Why is Shushan referred to as the "Birah," the name given to the holy city of Yerushalayim? This is telling us that, at the time this story occurred, the Ish Yehudi should have already led the people to Yerushalayim Habirah. However, this advice was clearly not followed. 

There are other references to this idea in the text, such as comparisons between the Beit Hamikdash and Achashverosh's palace, to the Da'at of the kindgom, and more. Perhaps, a reason why God is "hidden" in the Megillah is to highlight this idea. The Jews did not do what God wanted, so He is currently unavailable until they get their acts together. He is sending them signs to direct them to the appropriate course of action, and it is up to them to do what must be done.