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Monday, 11 Adar 2, 5776 / March 21, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

There is no other holiday in the Jewish calendar as festive as Purim. One only has to go out this Thursday, March 24, on the streets of any religious neighborhood in Israel, USA, Canada, France, England, Australia, etc. and see the tremendous joy and celebrations going on.

There is no other Jewish holiday where children (and some adults) get dressed up in all sorts of costumes to celebrate the joyous spirit of the Purim holiday.

Q.What is the reason for the custom of wearing a costume and disguising oneself on Purim?   

A.The heroine of the miracle of Purim and after whom the Megilah was named, was Queen Esther. Although the miracle of Purim happened close to a thousand years after the writing of the Torah, yet, our sages tell us that the names of the people mentioned in the story of Purim (Esther, Mordechai, Haman) are implied in the Torah. 

Esther’s name is hinted in the verse in which G-d says: “Haster astir ponai“ - I will hide My face from you..” (Deuteronomy 31:18).

Being that the words in the Torah which allude to Esther are the words, Haster astir ponai, which mean, “I will hide My face,” thus, it is customary, especially for children, to “hide their face” and put on disguises on Purim.

Another very interesting reason how putting on a disguise on Purim came about: It is a mitzvah to give to the poor more charity than usual on the day of Purim. The sages were worried that there may be poor people who would be embarrassed to go out and ask for charity. To avoid this problem, many put on disguises on Purim, so that the poor can do the same and won’t be embarrassed.

Here is one more reason: The Megilah tells us that in the beginning Queen Esther hid her identity from the King and didn’t tell him that she was Jewish. Only after Haman made his decree against the Jewish people, did Esther reveal her identity to the King. The king was furious with Haman for wanting to kill his queen, who was Jewish. This caught Haman off guard and contributed to his downfall and the great miracle of Purim.

In commemoration to the fact that Esther hid her identity, which played a big role in the miracle, it became customary to hide one’s identity by disguising their faces and appearance on Purim.

Purim, which took place in Persia, commemorates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history when we were saved from total annihilation. Over two thousand five hundred years have gone by since the story of Purim, but very little has changed in the Persia-Iran of today. They still want to wipe us out…

Purim reminds us that our existence has always been a miracle and the miracle continues. Am Yisrael Chai – the Jewish people will live on forever!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY