Purim and Pirkei Avot 1: Rejoicing over the downfall of enemies

This is the first of three short posts that link Pirkei Avot to the festival of Purim (this coming Thursday for most of the world, Friday for Jerusalem and any city that was walled at the time of Joshua).

At Avot 4:24, Shmuel HaKatan ("Samuel the Small") is quoted as saying

"When your enemy falls, do not rejoice; when he stumbles, do not let your heart be gladdened in case God sees and it will be displeasing in His eyes, and He will turn His anger from [your enemy to you]"

This mishnah raises many questions, not least is that of why this teaching appears in Pirkei Avot at all since it consists of a couple of verses that have been cut-and-pasted from Proverbs 24:17-18. Or, as one commentator, puts it, if this verse comes straight from King Solomon, why should we be concerned with how big or small this particular Tanna happens to be?

Leaving that issue aside, there is a topical matter to consider. On the festival of Purim, Jews the world over engage in merrily celebrating the downfall of Haman -- the arch-villain whose rise and fall are described in the Book of Esther. How can we do this in the face of clear guidance about not rejoicing when our enemies stumble?

On Purim we celebrate in accordance with the mood of the moment, as expressed in the Book of Esther: (8:16):

“The Jews had light and happiness and joy and honour" (Esther 8:16).

Does this sentiment invite the celebration of the downfall of one’s foes? The context of this verse suggests that this is not actually so. The event to which this joyful verse refers is not the downfall of Haman at all, but to the issue of a royal proclamation that the Jews were allowed to take up arms in order to defend themselves against those who, in accordance with an earlier and irrevocable proclamation (at 3:13), were ordered to exterminate them and plunder their property. It is clear, therefore, that the celebration of Purim does not contradict the substance of our mishnah. Rather, it marks the turning point in the tide of Jewish fortunes; it was a sign that, since they had not deserted God, God had not deserted them.