The Forgotten Jews

The Yalkut Shimoni[1] tells us when they were doing an accounting for the Mishkan, Moshe forgot about the 1,775 Shekalim that were for the hooks for the pillars…Indeed, the trop on ואת האלף[2] is an אזלא גרש since he forgot about these 1,775 Shekalim. These represent the forgotten Jews, the Jews of our generation,עקבתא דמשיחה.[3] These Jews—which are the last generation—correspond to the last month, the lowest, the month of Adar.[4] In Adar we read Megilas Esther. This alludes to the Jews of הסתרה, concealment from Divine Providence as in ואנכי הסתיר אסתיר פני, I will surely conceal myself from them, as it is in this Pasuk that the Gemara says Esther is alluded to in the Torah.[5]

                The Tur[6] tells us the 12 months correspond to the 12 שבטים. These low Jews correspond to the second Adar—a month which doesn’t correspond to a Shevet. Spelling out the letter ו—ואו (which is a hook)—we see it has a Gematria of 13, as the 13^th month has no corresponding Shevet. This is represented by the hooks—that which was on the outside of the חצר, courtyard (on which the curtains were hung), just as those Jews are on the outside.

                Just as the hooks serve as a connector as it connects the curtains to the Mishkan, likewise the second Adar connects these Jews. Indeed, the miracle of Purim took place in the second Adar, says the Yerushalmi.[7]