Dovid Margolin:
This upcoming Saturday night and Sunday is the holiday of Purim. Purim commemorates the Jewish people's miraculous deliverance from certain destruction in Ancient Persia. Every year on Purim we listen to the Megilla, in which the story of Purim is recounted. We give money to the poor, send food packages to each other and gather for a special Purim meal. Purim is one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, and celebrating with wine at the meal is not only not frowned upon, it is one of the day's obligations.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that this holiday of Purim does have some peculiarities. The name Purim, for example, is not a Hebrew word but a Persian one. Secondly, Pur itself, which means “lots” as in a lottery, refers to the lots that Haman, the King's adviser who was behind the evil plan, threw to determine the Jews day of destruction. It seems strange to name the holiday after such a thing. Thirdly, the Megilla, which tells over the story of this great miracle does not even mention the name of G-d!
The Rebbe answers that this is the idea of Purim. The miracle of Purim was beyond nature, but appeared to be within the boundaries of nature. Esther was Jewish and was the Persian queen, the leader of the Jews was Mordechai who was a royal advisor. But what did Esther and Mordechai do when the evil decree was announced? Esther called upon the people to fast, which she did herself, and Mordechai learned Torah with the children. They knew that their victory would come from turning to G-d and not relying on nature.
Purim, a Persian word, refers to the lots that the evil Haman threw. The holiday is named Purim to show that even in such a situation we, the Jewish nation, are governed by a higher authority and not nature. The word Megilla comes from the root 'to reveal', the name Esther comes from the root 'hidden,' when we read the Megilla, Megillas Esther, we reveal its hidden meaning. We understand that the lots that Haman will throw are really the workings of G-d, and by focusing on our G-dly service we will be victorious.
The message of Purim applies to our day-to-day lives, we must only reveal it, and with that we will merit to bring Moshiach.
Boston native and member of Russian Jewish community Dovid Margolin is currently a writer for Chabad.org.
Seee his recent articles here and here.
posted by: jrtelegraph
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