The Code of Jewish Law states that on the day of Purim we do not check poor people’s credentials. Rather, “All who put out their hand to take we give to him.” (Code of Jewish Law 142:3) The Hassidic Masters tell us that G-d does not expect us to do anything that He Himself does not do. So on the day of Purim, any of us that “put our hand” to G-d and ask him for something we need, G-d will give to him or her; It is a very opportune time for specific prayers.
But we do not always take advantage of this unique opportunity. There is a Breslov parable that shows a comparison of this anomaly. There was once a poor man who did a favor for a king (all Jewish parables have to have a poor man and a king, of course.) As a symbol of his gratitude, the king told the poor man to come to his treasury on an appointed date and to take whatever he wants. Later, the king regretted his decision, but did not wantto renege on his promise to the poor man. So what did he do? On the appointed date he got the poor man incredibly drunk. In his intoxicated stupor the poor man barely took anything from the treasury.
On the day of Purim, G-d’s treasury is open; we can take whatever we want. But what do we do? We get paralytically drunk and squander this rare opportunity. It is important to keep the day of Purim in its full sanctity, to utilize it to its full potential.
Rabbi Nachman from Breslov, of sainted memory, tells us that on the day of Purim one should start new beginnings, plant new seeds, take on resolutions, for there is special merit that they will succeed. Originally, all beginnings began on Passover: the new year, the redemption from Egypt, etc. But when the story of Purim happened, it caused all new beginnings to start exactly one month earlier, on Purim.
I noticed an allusion to this in this week’s Torah portion, Tzav. The portion of Tzav speaks of the inauguration of Aaron and his sons as priests; the first time they put on the priestly garments, they brought their first sacrifices. The prevailing theme is new beginnings, the start of a process. And this does not only apply to priests, but to the entire Jewish people, as G-d stated “And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6) In Jerusalem, Purim falls out on Shabbat. So the reading of Shabbat has a powerful instruction for us in connection to Purim: Now is the time to start over. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, even if you brought a Golden Calf. Now is the time to rectify, to start fresh, with a clean slate. May the holiness of Purim this year help us see through the concealment of G-dliness in this world and bring about the final redemption.
With Love from the Holy Land,
Elisha
March 20, 2008...9:59 am
Get Pumped for Purim: Part II
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