Tetzaveh-Purim
Dear Friend,
Last Purim, I took my kids to hear the story of Purim from a truly talented storyteller. Every quote from the megillah characters was vocalized in a unique voice that matched the character’s personality. Haman was gruff; Mordechai, scholarly; and so on. We felt like we were there in ancient Persia.
While this was certainly entertaining (for adults too, I’ll admit), perhaps there was a deeper message: The Purim holiday (this coming Saturday night and Sunday) is not just a day of ritual and storytelling, but an experience, a journey back in time, something to relive.
We read in the megillah that Mordechai instructs the Jews, “These days shall be remembered and done.” It is not enough just to “remember” the days of yore; we actually have to “do” them, experiencing them in real time. Get into a costume. Join a megillah reading in your community. Invite guests to your Purim meal. Share food gifts with a friend, and give charity.
But then take it a step further. Apply the lessons of Purim to your life: No matter how bleak things seem, G‑d’s salvation is right around the corner. And when you least see Him, you know He is most present.
Happy Purim!
Moshe Rosenberg,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team
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