Purim 2

Today is the Fast of Esther. This day is to mark the three days of fasting all the Jews of Shushan did in preparation for Esther going before the Queen to plead ask for the Jews to be saved from Haman’s evil plan.

As a rule, Jewish holidays have two aspects; a spiritual side (special prayers) and a physical side (eating special foods). There are two exceptions to this rule; Yom Kippur, which is purely spiritual (you eat a big meal the day before to prepare for the fast), and Purim, which is purely physical (you fast the ay before to prepare for the party). The commentaries argue, that this rule still holds – they argue that Yom Kippur and Purim are two halves of the same day.

The commentators also make a very interesting statement; they say that Purim is in fact a holier day than Yom Kippur. After all, the full name for Yom Kippur is Yom Ha’Kippurim, which literally translated is “A day like Purim”. How can Purim, a day of drinking and parting, be holier than Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and praying?

Unlike secular holidays which merely mark an anniversary of an event, Jewish holidays have a theme and are designed so every Jew can spiritually internalize these themes. The theme of Passover is freedom, the theme of Purim is joy, and the theme of Rosh Ha’Shana is renewal. In that way, Jewish holidays are an opportunity for grow closer to G-d. The goal of growing closer to G-d is just as true on Purim as it is on Yom Kippur.

On Yom Kippur you feel the spirituality… the fasting, the prayer… It’s easy to connect to G-d on a day like that. But on Purim, making that connection is not so easy (after all, you are supposed to get partly drunk). Just like G-d’s face was hidden during the events of Purim (and G-d name does not appear in the Book of Esther), it’s not clear how we connect to G-d on Purim. But if you understand how G-d operates in the world, you see G-d face in the events of Purim, and in the Purim celebrations today.

Someone who is able to connect to G-d on Purim has grown much more that if they connect to G-d on Yom Kippur. That’s why the commentators say that Purim is holier than Yom Kippur.

Have an easy fast.