non-parsha bit

[cellio]

The talmud says that the time of Mordechai and Esther was "darker than night", because even at night we have the moon and stars to shed light. The rabbis compare Esther to the dawn; as light gradually increases, so did Israel's redemption through Esther: first Mordechai sat at the gate, then Esther arose as queen, then the king could not sleep (which led to Mordechai's reward), and finally Esther was able to reverse the king's decree. (Yoma 29a)