Purim is, without a doubt, the most joyful day of the year. We sing, dance, gather at festive feasts, and share Mishloach Manot with friends and family. It is a day of maximum joy, but it is also a holiday filled with profound meaning.
We all know the story: Haman wanted to annihilate the entire people of Israel, but in the end, on Purim, everything turned out for the better. God saved us, and ever since, we celebrate this miracle with joy and gratitude.
However, a question arises: how is Purim different from other holidays? Throughout history, attempts have been made to exterminate us many times, and when God saved us, we commemorate it with festivities.
The key to Purim is not only salvation, but what brought it about. The Jewish people did not passively wait for the miracle. When threatened, they united in fasting, prayer, and sincere return to Hashem. Each one assumed responsibility not only for themselves, but also for each other. On Purim, the entire people became an indivisible family, and it was this unity that opened the door to the miracle.
Just this week, in Parasha Ki Tisa, we read about the half-shekel that each Jew was required to give for the service of the Beit HaMikdash. Why half a shekel and not a whole shekel? To emphasize that what we contribute is only half: for it to be a full shekel, we need to unite with our neighbor.
This teaching is a powerful metaphor for unity and mutual responsibility. When we give our half-shekel, we are elevated and gain protection, in addition to countless spiritual and material benefits.
Today, the Jewish people face a very complex situation. The war on terror and rising antisemitism around the world challenge and pain us.
This Purim, more than ever, we must learn from our ancestors: to unite as one person with one heart. We cannot afford indifference or division. It is time to strengthen prayer, to help our neighbors, to reach out to those most in need.
Each of us has the power to transform challenges into salvation and strength. May this Purim be a time of profound unity and mutual responsibility.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen