Midreshet Amit

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Every Jewish holiday involves different mitzvot as well as themes that shape the day. On Purim we fulfill four mitzvot: Megilah reading, the Purim Seudah, Mishloach Manot (gifts of food), and Matanot laEvyonim (tzedakah). We read the megilah to remember the miracle and to thank God for the mercy He showed us then. We have a Purim seudah in order to once again thank God for saving us from total annihilation. But what is the purpose of the mitzvot of gifts of food and tzedakah in relation to Purim?

I believe the answer lies in the Chesed event that made the miracle of Purim possible. Although the act may seem insignificant to the story of Purim as a whole, the entire megilah rests on a single act of chesed: “Vayehi Omane Et Esther, He Esther Bat Dodo Ki Ein Lah Av VeAm,” “And Mordechai nurtured Hadassah, who was Esther, his cousin, because she had neither father nor mother.” By adopting Esther, an orphan with no other place to go, Mordechai demonstrated true selflessness and Chesed towards his cousin, thereby shaping the rest of the megilah story. Because Mordechai had raised Esther, he was able to influence her within King Achashverosh’s palace and guide her to save the Jewish people of Persia.

Through this we see that Chesed is the theme that drives the entire holiday of Purim. Therefore, every year we mark the day of Purim not only by thanking Hashem with feasts and megilah reading, but also with the Chesed of giving tzedakah and sharing gifts, in order to commemorate the selflessness that planted the seeds of our salvation.

This past Shabbat we read Parshat Zachor in order to remember how Amalek attacked us in the wilderness and ensure that there is never again another attack like this in the future on our people. Instead of attacking the men in the front, they attacked the weak and vulnerable stragglers in the back. If we succeed in “Vayehi Omane”, and follow Mordechai’s lead in adopting those around us, then there will be no “stragglers” for another Amalek to attack. Instead, “LaYehudim Hayitah Orah Vesimcha Vesason Veyakar,” and we will be able to truly celebrate a Purim victory. 

In Amit, we perform true acts of Chesed every day. Whether its spending time with our Beit Hayeled families, packaging food for the poor, or visiting Shalva children for the day, we are a Chesed oriented school. Through our Chesed and kindness towards others, I hope we will merit having a true Purim victory as the Jews of Persia merited. Have an amazing Purim!