Megillah
Outer Action: We listen to the Megillah, which tells us the story of Purim.
Inner Intention: The Megillah reading is the most powerful transmission of the spiritual energy of Purim. While listening to the Megillah, pay attention to every single detail, looking for the guiding hand of Hashem through the twists and turns of the incredible story. Notice how seemingly unrelated events and random interactions weave together to create the most sophisticated story of Hashem’s hashgachah.
Banging by Haman
Outer Action: We stamp our feet when we hear the word “Haman” in the Megillah.
Inner Intention: Haman was from Amaleik. Amaleik represents the yetzer hara of “coldness,” pulling us to serve Hashem in a dry, cold, surface-level way.
We respond by passionately stamping out every mention of the word “Haman” as I bring out the fire within me and display my love for an exciting and warm Judaism. (Therefore, if you have a choice, it would make sense to specifically choose the megillah reading where they bang extra loud!)
Mishloach Manos
Outer Action: We give food gifts to other Jews to help increase the overall atmosphere of joy, brotherhood, and unity.
Inner Intention: On a deeper note, the word “mishloach” has the same Hebrew root word as “shliach,” or messenger. Every Yid is a shliach of Hashem, here on a unique mission to spread G-dliness in the world.
We don’t want our knowledge that Hashem is running every aspect of the world to give us an attitude of “Hashem is running the world, so whatever happens is what was meant to happen, and I’ll just sit back and let Hashem run His world.” Hashem sent us here to be His messenger to carry out His Will! As a Yid, our job is to act, to do mitzvos, and to help others. We reinforce our call to action with this special mitzvah to spread joy and food packages on Purim through the mitzvah of mishloach manos.
Suedas Purim / Getting Drunk
Outer Action: We eat a festive Purim seudah, and drink wine until we do not know the difference between “Blessed is Mordechai and cursed is Haman.”
Inner Intention: On Purim we eat and drink and celebrate with joy, knowing that no matter what we might be going through, we are exactly where we need to be, and Hashem is guiding us exactly where we need to go. As we integrate this knowledge into every fiber of our soul, we experience more and more inner joy, until we burst into expressions of closeness to Hashem, through singing or dancing, hoping or yearning, crying or laughing. For Hashem, with Hashem, because of Hashem.
With every l’chaim, we celebrate our Judaism, with serenity and joy. We are at peace with the world, knowing Who is taking care of us. Slowly, cup after cup, our neshamah is elevated to the highest levels of Bittul, without limitation, as our bodies express unrestrained and unfiltered simchah. We see the harmony in creation, the Oneness of Hashem, and the holiness and purity of every single Jew. We drink until we see no difference between Haman and Mordechai, between bad and good —since it is all from Hashem, it is all good!
Matanos La’evyonim
Outer Action: On Purim we give charity to the poor so that they too can feel joy and celebrate with a festive meal.
Inner Intention: The unique quality of the gifts we give to the poor on Purim, which is unlike the year-round mitzvah of tzedakah, is that on Purim we do not scrutinize to determine whether someone asking us for charity is truly needy; we give to anyone who asks. What we are doing is reinforcing our belief that Hashem orchestrates every single occurrence and interaction we have.
When we give matanos La’evyonim, we are essentially reminding ourselves: “I know that all of my money was given to me by Hashem for me to use for good. Hashem is running the world, and if He sent me this Jew who is asking for charity, I will follow this Divine Providence without questioning it.”
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 27 Special Purim Editions.