Happy Purim, everyone! Many people are not familiar with this holiday, which was once considered a minor holiday, and now is being elevated to the forefront of the Jewish calendar. One reason for this is the increased interest in the mystical aspects of Torah, or the Kabbala, which tells us that Purim is akin to Yom Kippur. Once could hardly imagine two holidays that are more different. Yom Kippur is dedicate to fasting and praying, while on Purim, we dress in costumes, eat meat, drink wine, exchange gifts of food and money to the poor and celebrate (and many drink). How is it that the two are similar?
This can be learned by looking at the Purim story, which can be found in the Book of Esther in the Bible. The Jews of Persia were threatened with extermination by an evil man named Hamman, who didn’t like their customs, particularly the prohibition against bowing to human beings. When Mordechai the leader of Persian Jewry refused to bow to him, Hamman became angry and convinced the King to pass an edict that the Jews should be killed in the entire Persian Empire on a certain date. All the Jews fasted and prayed, and the Queen who happened to be Jewish, Esther, approached the king, told him of Hamman’s wickedness and pleaded with him to save her people. The King could not rescind the edict, but sentenced Hamman to death, elevated Mordechai’s status and gave the Jews permission to defend themselves against attack. The Jews of Purim were successful, and Purim is celebrated to commemorate this miracle.
The Jews of Persia could have renounced their traditions and identity to save their lives. But they decided not to, and they decided to show self-sacrifice and rely on G-d rather than saving themselves by hiding. This mass repentance made such an impression that it is considered to be a kind of Yom Kippur, or day of repentance. On Yom Kippur, we avoid physicality and become like angels. On Purim, the importance is to bring the physical up to a higher level by celebrating the miracle through drinking, eating and giving gifts.
So who knew fun and feasting could be a spiritual pursuit? Have a Happy Purim!