The Lesson of Purim

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Lessons of Purim
Rabino Shabsi Alpern

One of the provisions related to the feast of Purim is "mishloach manot" - "sending of portions", send two types of kosher food for a friend. One explanation for this mitzvah - commandment is that in doing so, we can correct the transgressions committed by some of our brethren at the time of Purim.

The aim of this divine spark is to "illuminate" with the light of God's highest ideals.

Mishloach manot reminds and warns us not be led by the brilliance of civilizations and cultures alien to ours, and urges us to resist the assimilation, however flattering it may seem.

The assimilation and imitation not only accelerate our spiritual decline, prevent us from achieving the desired respect and acceptance by society.

And so we read the story of Purim: When the king of Persia saw that Mordechai remained faithful to Judaism, even in the royal court, he had deep respect and admiration for him, thinking: "This is a man of principle, in him I can trust"

The History shows that those who try to gain acceptance in society, denying their Jewish identity, end up being rejected in the end, with the following theory: "A man unfaithful to his own people and tradition, always swimming against the tide. Moreover, not there is someone who can have confidence, because he sold his legacy, for money or honors. How can we have confidence in him and depend on him if someone offers him more coins, if he betrayed their loyalty, and if betrayed their brothers in faith?

Unswerving loyalty to Gd and His Torah is the key to survival of our people, and is the only clue to get everyone's respect.