Purim
Some masks disguise us. Others disguise our guises. Joy happens when you come face-to-face with your true self.
It is the most intoxicating, miraculous and joyous of days. The story of Purim is dramatic, from a damsel in distress to a tailed queen; from a snake in a barrel to a roped gallows; from a seventy-language-speaking saint to a fork-tongued villain to a ridiculous king – and it’s all documented on a hand-written parchment scroll. Four Mitzvoth, righteous connections, are prescribed to ensure that the joy is tangible, not merely abstract. 1) Listen to the scroll, twice; 2) handout gifts to the needy; 3) deliver food packages to your fellow; 4) feast to a level beyond. On this costumed day, the proof is in the spirits. Download the Purim Guide for more.
Purim: Joy on Demand?
Purim is a day of joyous abandon that transcends conventional boundaries. It is a day when a window opens up that allows us deep inside of ourselves.
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Beyond Structure
Purim: It’s not our logic & plans that run the world but a higher force that may manifest in random experiences within which lies the greatest power of all.
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A Singular People: Jewish Uniqueness
Purim celebrates the salvation of a singular people: Torah, the festivals, circumcision and tefillin are symbols of Jewish uniqueness.
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A Roll of Dice: The Purim Lots
Purim derives its name from the lots cast by Haman. It is not some incidental detail but the single event that most expresses what Purim represents.
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Cosmic Sleep
Achashveirosh’s sleepless night set in motion a series of events that led to Mordechai’s rise, Haman’s downfall, and the salvation of the people of Israel.
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A Feast and a Fast: The Fast of Esther
With their joy the Jews rejected their uniqueness as a nation under the special protection of G-d. To save the Jews Esther knew they had to reconnect to G-d
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In Search of Eden
There are many angles to understand the war in Iraq. But the true war today is driven by the angst of man in search of Eden. This is an essay on the connection between redemption, the Persian gulf, and Purim.
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