Torah's light revealed through worthy vessels

ליהודים היתה אורה זו תורה.

"The Yehudim had light (orah)" — this is Torah.

Chazal expound that the "light" the Jews experienced after the Purim miracle refers to Torah. The Sefas Emes builds on the precise word "orah" (a radiant light).

פי' כמו שמתפללין והאר עינינו בתורתך.

This means, as we pray: "and enlighten our eyes in Your Torah."

The Torah is meant to be a source of light that illuminates our eyes and minds, as we ask in davening.

שהתורה ניתנה לנו להאיר לנו.

For the Torah was given to us to illuminate us.

The very purpose of the Torah is to shine light into a person.

שהתורה נקראת אור.

For the Torah is called "ohr" (light).

Torah is fundamentally described as light.

כמ"ש ותורה אור.

As it is written: "and Torah is light" (Mishlei 6:23).

The pasuk explicitly identifies Torah as ohr.

אבל העיקר כשבנ"י זכאין.

But the essential point is when Bnei Yisrael are worthy (zakkain).

Torah only becomes full radiant "orah" when Yisrael are deserving and pure.

והם כלים לקבל האור.

And they are vessels (keilim) to receive the light.

When Yisrael make themselves into fitting vessels, they can actually receive and hold the light of Torah.

נקראת התורה אורה.

Then the Torah is called "orah."

When there are worthy recipients, the bare "ohr" (light) becomes the full, realized "orah" — illumination that has actually taken effect.

שנגמר המכוון מכח אל הפועל.

For then the intended purpose is completed, from potential to actual.

The light of Torah moves from latent potential (koach) into full actuality (poal) only when it lands in a worthy vessel.

שבנ"י הם הפתילה שהאור נאחז בה.

For Bnei Yisrael are the wick (p'silah) in which the flame takes hold.

Just as a flame needs a wick to grasp onto and become a steady light, Yisrael are the wick that grounds and sustains the fire of Torah.

וגם היתה אורה שנתחדש אור התורה וקיבלה הוי' חדשה.

And "there was orah" also means that the light of Torah was renewed, and they received it anew (kibbel havayah chadashah).

At Purim a fresh acceptance of the Torah took place ("kiymu v'kiblu"), so the light of Torah was renewed and received in a brand-new way.

כי הקב"ה נותן התורה תמיד.

For Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives the Torah constantly.

The giving of Torah was not a one-time event at Sinai — Hashem continuously gives the Torah at every moment.

כמ"ש קול גדול ולא יסף.

As it is written: "a great voice that did not cease (v'lo yasaf)."

The voice of Sinai never stopped; it continues to resound and give Torah always.

ולא פסק.

And it did not stop.

That Divine voice giving Torah has never ceased.

רק כפי שיש מקבלים כך מתחדש אור התורה.

Rather, according to how many recipients there are, so the light of Torah is renewed.

The flow of Torah is constant from Above; what changes is the readiness of recipients below. The more worthy vessels there are, the more the light of Torah is renewed and revealed.

ואחר מפלת עמלק מתגלה אור התורה.

And after the downfall of Amalek, the light of Torah is revealed.

The Purim victory over Amalek (Haman, his descendant) clears the way for the light of Torah to shine forth.

שכל התורה שמותיו של הקב"ה.

For the entire Torah is [composed of] the Names of Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

The whole Torah is, on a deep level, the Names of Hashem — it is a revelation of His very Being.

ונשבע הקב"ה שאין שמו שלם עד שימחה זרע עמלק לכן כפי מחיית עמלק כך מאיר אור התורה:

And Hakadosh Baruch Hu swore that His Name is not complete until the seed of Amalek is erased; therefore, according to the erasure of Amalek, so the light of Torah shines.

Hashem's Name (and His Throne) remains incomplete while Amalek exists. Since the Torah is His Names, the light of Torah can only shine fully as Amalek is blotted out. Erasing Amalek and revealing the light of Torah are one and the same avodah.

Summary: Torah is called "ohr" (light), but it becomes the full "orah" only when Bnei Yisrael make themselves worthy vessels — the wick in which the flame takes hold. Hashem gives the Torah ceaselessly, the great voice of Sinai never having stopped; what determines how much light is revealed is the readiness of the recipients. Since the entire Torah is the Names of Hashem, and His Name is incomplete while Amalek endures, the downfall of Amalek at Purim is precisely what allows the light of Torah to shine forth anew.