The enduring name Yehudim

במגילה נקראו ישראל רק בשם יהודים.

In the Megillah, Yisrael are called only by the name "Yehudim" (Jews).

The Sefas Emes observes that throughout Megillas Esther the nation is referred to exclusively as "Yehudim," not as "Yisrael" or "Yaakov."

כי זה השם לעולם בישראל.

For this name is forever [attached] to Yisrael.

The name "Yehudi" is a permanent designation that never leaves the Jewish people, in every circumstance.

אפילו בדורות השפלים.

Even in the lowly generations.

It clings to them even in the most spiritually degraded eras.

שכופרין בע"ז ומודים אל האמת.

For they deny idolatry (avodah zarah) and acknowledge the truth.

Chazal teach that anyone who denies avodah zarah is called a "Yehudi"; this core of rejecting falsehood and affirming Hashem's truth remains intact even when little else does.

וזה בחי' יהודה שנקראו בנ"י על שמו כדאיתא במד' ויחי.

And this is the aspect of Yehudah, for whom Bnei Yisrael are named, as it is brought down in the Midrash on Vayechi.

The whole nation bears the name of the tribe of Yehudah, as the Midrash explains — and this name carries Yehudah's particular quality.

וז"ש והשארתי בקרבך עם עני ודל וחסו בשם ה'.

And this is the meaning of, "And I will leave in your midst a poor and lowly people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Hashem" (Tzefaniah 3:12).

Even when reduced to a "poor and lowly" remnant, this people takes shelter in Hashem's name — which is the very essence of being a Yehudi.

וזהו שם יהודה הד' רומז על דלות ושפלות וחל עליו כל השם ע"י שחסה בשם ה'.

And this is the name Yehudah: the dalet alludes to poverty (dalus) and lowliness, and yet the entire Name [of Hashem] rests upon it because it takes refuge in the name of Hashem.

The name "Yehudah" contains the four letters of Hashem's Name plus a dalet. The dalet represents poverty and lowliness — yet precisely because this lowly remnant shelters in Hashem's Name, the full Divine Name comes to rest upon it.

וזה הרבותא ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון.

And this is the novelty (rabusa) of "the Yehudim had light and gladness and joy" (Esther 8:16).

The remarkable thing is that even these lowly "Yehudim" merited a flood of light, gladness, joy, and honor.

שדרשו על התורה והמילה ותפילין.

For they expounded [these] as referring to Torah, milah, and tefillin.

Chazal interpret "orah, simcha, sasson, vikar" as Torah, the festival, milah, and tefillin — the lights of these mitzvos.

שהגם שהיו במדריגה הפחותה.

For although they were on a lowly level,

Despite being at a degraded spiritual madreigah in the era of the Purim story,

זכו להרגיש אותן האורות של התורה והמילה והתפילין והמועדות.

they merited to feel those lights of the Torah and the milah and the tefillin and the festivals.

They were nonetheless able to perceive and experience the deep lights radiating from Torah, milah, tefillin, and the moadim.

ששורש שלהם לישראל בכח האבות.

For their root belongs to Yisrael by the power of the Avos.

These lights are rooted in the deepest identity of Yisrael, an inheritance secured by the merit and power of the Avos, which can never be lost.

ושם יהודים למטה משמות יעקב וישראל.

And the name "Yehudim" is lower than the names "Yaakov" and "Yisrael."

Among the nation's names, "Yehudim" represents the lowest rung — beneath the loftier levels signified by "Yaakov" and "Yisrael."

ואעפ"כ זכו לאותן האורות:

And even so, they merited those lights.

The wonder of Purim is that even from this lowest level of "Yehudim," they reached and felt the highest lights — because their indestructible root in the Avos endures even in the deepest descent.

Summary: In the Megillah, Yisrael are called only "Yehudim" — a name that clings forever, even in lowly generations, because a Yehudi is one who denies idolatry and affirms Hashem's truth. The name Yehudah holds the four letters of Hashem's Name plus a dalet (poverty/lowliness): even a poor, lowly remnant that takes refuge in Hashem's Name has the full Divine Name rest upon it. This is the wonder of "the Yehudim had light and gladness" — though at the lowest level, beneath "Yaakov" and "Yisrael," they still felt the lights of Torah, milah, tefillin, and the festivals, because their root in the power of the Avos can never be severed.