Daf Yomi, Marriage Counseling, Psychotherapy, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Torah and Psychology
Our Gemara uses a word to characterize something that penetrates—mechalchel. In Hebrew, Chal or Chol means hollow, as in something non-holy, which is Chulin, our mesechta’s name. Chulin is devoid of holiness, hollowed out, and therefore not sacred.
The phrase mechalchel comes up most notably in regard to Esther. When she finds out about the looming genocide that Haman lobbied for, her reaction is described as “vtischalchal” (Esther 4:4). The commentaries differ in how they understand the word. The Targumim describe it as trembling and panic; if so, its root is not the same and comes from trembling or jangling, as in “chil” (trembling overtook the dwellers of Philistia) from the Az Yashir (see Shemos 15:14, Bartenura Mikvaos 4:3, and Ibn Ezra Esther ad loc.). However, others see this word as having the same root as hollow or hole. The Gemara Megilla (15a) records two opinions: apparently due to her shock and panic, Esther suddenly menstruated or lost control of her bowels. Esther Rabbah (8:3) adds that she had a miscarriage. All of these interpretations likely understand the root of the word as being hollowed out (see Torah Temimah, Esther 4:4 and Eitz Yosef on Rabbah 8:3).
Toldos Yaakov Yosef (Hadevarim Asher Shamati Mimori 92), in the name of the Baal Shem Tov, has a fascinating take on this incident with Esther. The particular experience of losing control of her bowels was a humbling message. At this time of national crisis, when Esther could have turned her back on her people, the message is: “Even though you are queen, you are not a god; you are a human with a body subject to the same weaknesses as every other human.” (Though Esther acted heroically for her people, we see from the verses that at least Mordechai initially suspected her of being tempted to hide behind her queen persona: “If you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.” Esther 4:14.)
Toldos Yaakov Yosef goes on to say that if we get such a physical alert during our Shemoneh Esrei prayer, it is a message that we are approaching the prayers haughtily. God sends us a reminder of our mortality and physical weakness. To a mindful person who sees God in everyday acts and experiences, even the untimely and embarrassing urge to go to the bathroom during prayers itself is a divine interaction.
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Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, LMFT, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com