Page 25 - HaMizrachi #27 Purim USA 2021

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Mrs. Shira Smiles

Enhancing Exuberance

ה ָ ח ְ מׂ ִ ש ְּ ב ןי ִּ ב ְ ר ַ מ רּ ָ ד ַ א סַנ ְ כִּנ ׁ ּ ֶ ש ִ מ may not have the wherewithal to buy Further, how can we compare Purim to
delicacies on Purim, or perhaps even Yom KiPur(im)? On Yom Kippur we
“From the arrival of the month to pay for necessities, by giving them resemble angels who neither eat nor
of Adar we increase joy.” gifts and dignity. We create more joy by drink, but on Purim we are even greater

his well-known saying of Chazal giving to the poor than by creating very than angels since we are acting in ways
seems to be the linchpin for all elaborate mishloach manot baskets to similar to G-d’s presence and bringing
Tour Purim festivities. What is the share our friendship with others. Simcha simcha to others.
essence of this joy, and how can we keep is about making other people happy. Since we are created in the image of
it going? G-d and are told to emulate G-d, we,
The simcha of Jews is inherently “” We are to embrace like G-d, will want to give. Giving fills
different from the simcha of the rest members of our one with happiness as it fills others with
of the world. When other nationalities happiness and fulfills our mission here
celebrate, a business success or victory community, on earth.
for example, eating and drinking pretty especially those on
much completes their celebration. the fringes who may Nevertheless, we are physical bodies
For Jews, however, celebration means feel downtrodden as well as spiritual beings. There is
understanding G-d’s role in the victory, a constant conflict between one’s
and instituting rituals and laws that will or lonely, by egocentricity and one’s care for others.
cement this understanding and joy for including them in our The body is about me, while the soul is
all generations. about giving to others. But on Purim, the
mishloach manot body and soul work together, as the body
While every one of our holidays includes also recognizes that the greatest joy is in
specific mitzvot, there is a difference There are actually two parallel motifs giving to others. On Purim we chose to
between the mitzvot of Purim and those in the Purim tapestry. We certainly accept the Torah out of love, we chose
of other holidays. Yes, we are required to have the motif of reestablishing our to emulate HaKadosh Baruch Hu and be
take a lulav and etrog on Sukkot, and we relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu like Him, to be givers and to make others
are required to eat matzah on Pesach, as we accepted the Torah anew. But we happy. On Purim, we should be filled
but these mitzvot do not define the day. also have the motif of establishing and with and reflect joy both when we give
And although we are commanded to cementing relationships between each and when we receive mishloach manot.
rejoice on our holidays, that rejoicing other, and the Rambam maintains the Our focus should be on making others
does not connote their essence. In interpersonal motif is primary. When happy.
contrast, Purim is defined by rejoicing. one rejoices, one does it with others.
We are commanded to make the day When one brought the chagigah offering Which is largely true the rest of the year
itself a day of rejoicing. to the Mikdash on yom tov, he was as well.
enjoined from eating it alone. He was
In that respect, we are to make it a commanded to invite the poor and the
day of rejoicing for all, not just for orphans to share the meal with him. In
ourselves. We are to embrace members this way, he would emulate HaKadosh
of our community, especially those on Baruch Hu Who brings life to the Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after interna-
the fringes who may feel downtrodden downtrodden and unfortunate. tional lecturer, a popular seminary teacher,
and an experienced curriculum developer.
or lonely, by including them in our
mishloach manot. We are to give joy to How is Purim meant to be a day on A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
the poor, the orphan, the widow who which we should resemble the Shechina? mizrachi.org/speakers

| 25