What is Purim? In truth, many believe they know the answer to this question, but in actuality they don’t. To numerous people, Purim is an “everything goes” day, a day in which all limitations are removed and all restrictions are non-existent. They say whatever they want, and they do whatever they want. To others, Purim is simply a masquerade, with the most important feature being their costume. This, however, is far from the truth!
Chazal teach us that in the days of Moshiach, of all of the Yomim Tovim, Purim will be the one that remains, for Purim is a taste of “tomorrow.” What does this cryptic allusion to tomorrow mean? ביום ההוא יהי' ה' אחד ושמו אחד, on that day HaShem will be One and His name will be One. Upon the arrival of Moshiach, all will recognize the Oneness of HaShem, all will be cognizant of the fact that it is He and only He that created and maintains all that is. It is this truth that will unite us as a nation, and the entire world, under the domain and dominion of HaShem. All of our differences will dissipate, and all of our diversity will seem petty, as we will comprehend and appreciate all that transpires is the will of HaShem. It is this feeling that is palpable on Purim. The togetherness and camaraderie is tangible. The friendship and togetherness is manifest. It is a glimpse of the much anticipated “tomorrow” that we anxiously await and long for.Purim is a wonderful day filled with many mitzvos all sharing this common theme and fostering this feeling. Mishloach Manos conveys the idea that, if it were to be possible, we would all join at one tremendous communal seuda. Since we cannot, we send each other gifts of food, sharing our festive meal, relaying the reciprocal message to others that I wish you could be my guest. We give Matanos L’evyonim, expressing to the less fortunate, that as we are ready to dine royally, our feast would be incomplete knowing that our brother is lacking and needy.The Gemora tells us that in contrast to Matan Torah, on Purim the Jewish people re-affirmed their commitment to HaShem and His Torah out of pure love. This love was an expression of sincere thanks for being miraculously saved from Haman and his cohorts and their diabolical plan to annihilate our nation. The Purim story represents of our myopic view of the world around us, the many times that we do not perceive the ways of HaShem. It is a sign of the ecstasy and excitement that exists when at the end we understand in hindsight the profundity of all that transpired.May Purim enable us to feel the extraordinary love of HaShem, to shower others with our affection, and to merit such great days through the coming of Moshiach.A Freilchen Purim!Rabbi Katzenstein
I went to a Shiur last
night by Rebetzin Kalmonovitz last night who said that at the Purim Seudah we are on a
higher madregeh then at Neilah of Yom Kippur. Hashem opens gates that are not
open at any other time of the year. Hashem forgives us for things that we did
not do Teshuva for, and for things that we did intentionally, as long as we are
filled with the Bitachon that everything that Hashem does is for the best (like
in the story of Mordechai and Esther). This is the reason for wanting to be in a
state that we dont know the difference between Bless Mordechai and Curse Haman.
In the end, whatever happens is for our best, so even the seemingly bad is
really a blessing.
In our lives there is nothing good or bad, there is just sweet and bitter. Since everything comes from Hashem, nothing is bad. In the Purim Story, the things that made the situation seem the worst, were actually the root cause of the redemption. This is the essence of Purim, looking at things in our lives that seem difficult and realizing that they were really for the best.
This Purim you should create your own personal Megilah. Look back at your life and see the tragedies that turned into Bracha. Write it down and celebrate it. This will help you to be strong going forward because it helps you to appreciate that Hashem has a plan for us, and it may not feel good while it is happening, but we can often look back and appreciate that his plan is for our good.
Every Jew is gifted with a unique ability, quality, or special power has a responsibility to use it in a productive way to help the Jewish people. This is what Mordechai told Esther and this is what we need to learn for our own lives, whether in our professional, personal, or general interactions with people.
One of the most effective voices of the Yetzer Hara is to tell us that we can't have the one thing that we really want. The snake convinced Chava to eat the fruit of the Etz Hadas. Haman couldn't be happy because Mordechai wouldn't bow down to him.
Why do we make a Purim Seuda, when the source of the problem on Purim was that the Jews went to the Seuda of Achasveiros. The answer is that when the Jews did Teshuva from Ahavah. it was counted as if they did a mitzvah and not an aveirah. This shows us not just the importance of Teshuvah, but that physical things can change from spiritual realities.
