The Rebbe on Purim

An hour-long excerpt of an original archival recording of the Rebbe's farbrengen (gathering) on Purim 1973.

Why does the Megillah describe the extravagance of Achashveirosh’s feast in such great detail, which is irrelevant to the miracles or themes of Purim? We must learn from Achashveirosh: Someone who spent 180 days partying and drinking, and then feasted for another seven days with decadent indulgence obviously had his priorities wrong, but he used his every resource and all his might. How much more-so must a Jew fulfill his priority – his G-d given mission – to his utmost, drawing on every talent, ability and resource G-d has granted him.

An address to children: Thousands of years ago there lived the wicked Haman, who wanted to do bad to the Jewish People. But they were not afraid, and they remained loyal to Judaism, to Mordechai and Esther, and to their teachers who showed them how a Jew should live his daily life. What connection does Haman have to a Jewish child today?

Haman, bitter enemy of the Jews, said of their misdeeds, “the Jewish nation is slumbering.” Even their worst enemy perceived that a Jew’s heart is inseparable from G-d. The Jew is merely asleep sometimes, and his heart’s true desire cannot be expressed through our sleeping body.

Mordechai and Esther are the heroes of Purim, yet the Megillah is named only after Esther. And the initiative that the Megillah be included among the books of the Bible came specifically from Esther. Why is Esther given the spotlight, when her success depended on Mordechai’s plan?

"On that night the king's sleep was disturbed…" Taken literally this verse refers to King Achashverosh. But the Midrash explains a deeper dimension: "The sleep of the King of the universe was disturbed" - G-d Himself "woke up."

Mordechai gathered thousands of Jewish children to study Torah and pray to G-d to save the Jews from annihilation. Only when the innocent voices of the children ascended On High, did the Almighty annul the decree and replace it with the opposite — boundless joy.

The Midrash relates that when Mordechai learned of Haman’s wicked plot, he immediately gathered 22,000 Jewish children to study Torah with them. This caused a commotion on High, eliciting Divine mercy.