Purim

Purim is a day unlike any other. It is a day of joy, a day of transformation, a day when the impossible becomes possible. But to truly understand Purim, we must look beyond the surface. Because Purim is not just about celebrating a past miracle—it is about learning how to see miracles in our own lives.

The story of Purim begins in darkness. A decree of annihilation hangs over the Jewish people, an enemy with power and influence seeks to destroy them, and Hashem’s name is hidden. There are no open miracles, no splitting of the sea, no fire descending from Heaven. And yet, within this darkness, a series of seemingly natural events unfold—Vashti is removed, Esther is chosen, Mordechai overhears a plot, and one night, the king cannot sleep. It is only when we step back and put the pieces together that we see the Yad Hashem guiding every moment.

That is the essence of Purim. To see Hashem even when He is hidden. To recognize that the challenges we face, the struggles that seem random, are all part of a greater plan. Life does not always give us clarity. Sometimes, we feel like we are drowning in confusion, in pain, in uncertainty. But Purim teaches us that even when we cannot see Him, Hashem is right there, weaving every detail together for our ultimate salvation.

And in the moment of greatest danger, when everything seemed lost, what did the Jews do? They did not despair. They did not surrender. They gathered together, they fasted, they turned their hearts back to Hashem. They realized that the only true weapon they had was tefillah, the only real protection was teshuvah. And because they took that step, because they reconnected to who they truly were, everything changed.

This is the avodah of Purim. To break through the masks—not just the masks we wear on our faces, but the masks we wear in our lives. The mask of routine that makes us forget why we do what we do. The mask of despair that tells us things will never change. The mask of the yetzer hara that convinces us that we are stuck, that we are not capable of more. Purim is about removing the mask and seeing the truth—that a Jew is never alone, that Hashem is always orchestrating every moment, and that we have the strength to rise above anything that stands in our way.

And this is why on Purim, we increase in joy. Because simcha is not just a result of good things happening. True simcha comes from the knowledge that no matter what is happening, Hashem is in control. It comes from understanding that every moment—whether it looks good or bad—is leading us somewhere greater. It is the kind of simcha that is so deep, so powerful, that it breaks all barriers. The kind of simcha that does not just change how we feel—it changes who we are.

So as we hear the Megillah, as we give mishloach manot, as we sit at the Purim seudah surrounded by family and friends, we must take the message of Purim into our hearts. We must remember that nothing is random. That Hashem is always guiding us. That no matter how dark it seems, the salvation is already being prepared. And if we can internalize this, if we can truly see Hashem even when He is hidden, then we will not only celebrate Purim—we will live it, every single day of our lives.