Priestly robes

Reb Zadok is equating Aaron’s self sacrifice with Esther’s since both were willing to accept the consequences of their actions despite the legal ramifications, for the sake of a higher truth so that this archetype maybe characterized by self-sacrifice despite the law for a higher truth. The motivating factor seems to be selfless love for the other.

Aaron and Esther (and perhaps David and Judah) reflect this type of devotion and horizontal spirituality whereas Moses (and perhaps Joseph and Mordehkai) reflect the vertical dimension of performance of the divine will alone.

In the mystical literature as seen in the Zohar all these actions are seen as arousing divine mercy in a unique way. The talmud had already noted parallels between the king’s party in Chapter One of Esther and mortal supplication before the divine as well as the parallel between Esther entering the inner chamber of the king with the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies is not overlooked by the Zohar. Ari Kahn documents this well: ‫ספר אסתר פרק ה‬ ‫)א( וַיְהִי ּבַּיֹום הַּׁשְלִיׁשִי וַּתִלְּבַׁש אֶסְּתֵר מַלְכּות וַּתַעֲמֹד ּבַחֲצַר ּבֵית‬