Today is Purim. At the end of the Megilah it says that Mordechai wrote down, “To fulfill upon them, to make the 14th day (or the 15th day) every year, like the days when the Jewish people rested from their enemies. To make them days of happiness, parties and sending of Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim.
Rabbi Shmuel D’Uzega (well known for his commentary on Pirkei Avot) explains, in his comments on Megilat Esther, the meaning of the words “like the days that they rested.”
He says that human nature is that as times goes on, events are forgotten and the excitement dissipates. The quality isn’t the same. Even if a person was heated up over an event and he celebrates it, as time goes on it’s not as exciting.
For example, the way person celebrates on their wedding day is obviously not the same as when they celebrate their anniversary years later.
But, he says, Hashem did not want Purim to be a holiday like that, that slowly dissipates. Therefore, He says, every year, the Mishteh VSimcha should be with the same enthusiasm and happiness that it was with the Jewish people back then.
This is reminiscent of what the Gemarah tells us about Pesach. On Pesach it says, “And every generation they have to feel as if they got out of Mitzrayim.”
We celebrate on the night of the seder like we ourselves got out.
This commonality, as explained by Rav
D’Uzega, can help explain a Rashi. It says, MiShenichnas Adar Marbim B’Simcha, When Adar begins we start with simcha,
But Rashi, in Taanit, says that it doesn’t just mean Adar. He says, The days of Adar and Purim are days of miracles to the Jewish people.
The question is asked: Why do we single out Purim and Pesach as something special together?
Rav Moshe Sadka asks this question, and answers that it’s because in both situations, the Jewish people were destined for disaster. Regarding Pesach, it says that we would still be there us our children or grandchildren would still be subjugated to Paroah in Mitzrayim.
And when it comes to Purim, Haman’s plan was to wipe everybody out. So these two holidays are both about when the entire Jewish people were at risk for total decimation.
And based on the thoughts for Rav Shmuel D’Uzega, we can add that they have something else in common- for both, we have to feel like it’s happening to us now. If not for the fact that our forefathers were saved, we would not be here today.
So every year, we have to look at Purim like it is the cause for our existence. And the same is true for Pesach, says Rav Moshe Sadka.
We can add that this is why we have to have the same enthusiasm and excitement that we had when the miracle happened.
That gives one a responsibility for real contemplation. That is why we read through the whole Megilah every single year- in order to contemplate it and bring us to the high level of simcha that we are supposed to feel on Purim and take through Pesach.
Furthermore, the Shevet Musar makes another interesting point. When it says to fulfill the days of Purim, it includes the days of fasting that they accepted on themselves, and their crying out. What is the connection between the partying and the fasting?
He says just like the fasting was done L’Shem Shamayim, for God’s name, to arouse mercy, so too the simcha has to be the same. We can’t just be happy to party and use Purim as an excuse to let loose. It has to come from celebration for the miracle, and to publicize the miracle to the world. The intention of Mordechai back then was to announce the miracle, and that has to be our intention as well.
We have to relive the miracle, just like it happened then, with the same interest in publicizing the miracle, as they did then.
And B’ezrat Hashem we will all fulfill that Mitzvah of having simcha on Purim.
Have a wonderful day and a Purim Sameach.