Purim is a very busy day. The very fulfillment of the four mitzvos of the day (reading the Megillah, seeking out and giving gifts to at least two poor individuals, the Purim meal celebration, and sending mishloach manos- food parcels to at least one person) is most time consuming. Moreover, the tone and flavor of the day is one that distracts us from serious contemplation and meditation. Thus, I welcome the opportunity to share some serious uplifting food for thought to help us appreciate the special holiday of Purim.
The Rambam in his introduction to his enumeration of the 613 mitzvos of the Torah (in his introduction to Yad HaChazakah) notes that even the rabbinic mitzvos have a biblical frame of reference. The rabbis could not, would not institute a holiday that did not reflect a biblical tenet. Case in point: Purim demonstrates that special relationship that exists between Hashem and the Jewish nation. As is stated (Devarim 4:7) "for which is a great nation that has a G-d Who is close to it, as is Hashem, our G-d, whenever we call to Him." G-d promises: Call to Me, pray to Me and I will respond positively. Esther (4:16), "go assemble all the Jews that are to be found in Shushan, and fast for me." We fasted, we prayed and it was effective. This, according to the Rambam is a primary characteristic of the holiday of Purim, namely the efficacy of prayer.
The Chofetz Chaim zt"l in his Shaim Olam (Shaar Hischazkus ch. 14) utilizes Purim to buttress the faith - emunah we are to have in our ultimate redemption. The prophet Isaiah (51:1, 2) teaches "look to the rock from which you were hewn, and the hollow of the pit from which you were dug, who bore you." The prophet, says the saintly Chofetz Chaim, is comforting the Jewish nation that would experience and endure long painful humiliating and degrading exiles. "Don't despair." Look at Avraham and Sarah. They were blessed with a child when they were respectfully 100 and 90 years, when they had despaired from children. Proof: Abraham‘s response after his circumcision that he will have a child with Sarah was, (Braishis 17:18) "O that Yishmael might live before you." It is only then that they bore Yitzchak. On the verse (Braishis 15:5) "and He took him outside" Rashi cites our Chazal (Talmud Shabbos 156) that Hashem took Avraham and his descendants outside the realm of nature and the natural order of the world.
Who could have imagined that after hundreds of years of back-breaking servitude, Pharoah himself would liberate the enslaved Jewish people and ask for a blessing from them (Shemos 12:32). If the above is not sufficiently startling, who could have imagined that the former slaves would 7 weeks later experience prophecy the likes of which Ezekiel the prophet did not savor, as the Torah states (Devarim 5:4) "face to face did Hashem speak to you on the mountain".
Finally, the upcoming holiday of Purim serves as a bastion of faith. In Esther (3:12, 13) we read of the dreadful decree against the Jewish nation "to destroy, to slay and to exterminate all the Jews, in one day on the 13th of the 12th month, and to plunder their possessions". Who could have envisioned that on that very day it would all be reversed, and the Jews would kill their enemies, "and many from among the people of the land professed themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them" (Esther 8:17).
Imagine the excitement that accompanied the writing of Megillas Esther by Mordechai and Esther. At the completion of the scroll, after enumerating the mitzvos of the day, they write with prophetic certainty (Esther 9:28) "and these days should be remembered and celebrated by every generation, every family… and these days of Purim should never cease among the Jews nor shall their remembrance perish from their descendants." Pinch yourself! Your celebrating with your family, your community is living proof of this prophecy. But moreover, the celebration teaches us the veracity of the future prophecy of redemption for our people. Purim is a day that bolsters our faith, despite the most challenging conditions that surround us.
There are 3 possible reasons, suggests the Chofetz Chaim, as to why an individual will not respond positively to the request for assistance from another. The first is that just prior to being approached the usually generous mild mannered individual was aggrieved and aggravated, and hence will act out of character and say no. Secondly, he truly wants to assist but does have the wherewithal to say yes. Finally, he wants to help, has the ability to help but is fearful that the petitioner will squander the financial assistance and lacks the resolve to use it wisely.
None of the above applies to Hashem. King David (Tehillim 130:7,8) states "for with Hashem is kindness and abundant redemption and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities". The first possibility of catching Him "out of character" doesn't apply as He is constantly abounded by kindness. The second reason, namely the inability to help cannot be ascribed to Hashem, as the verse attests He possesses abundant redemption. The third and final possibility, the paucity of merit of the recipient, or perhaps the transgressions of the Jewish people make then ineligible for redemption, this too does not apply as the verse concludes with His redeeming Israel unequivocally.
Purim is an injection of optimism and a booster shot of emunah and bitachon. May this appreciation of the day add to your simchas Purim.