The great genius of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon, makes the following enigmatic play on words: “The holiest day of the year, Yom HaKipurim, is likened to the Holiday of Purim!”
Now, on face value there are no days of the year more polar opposite than Yom Kippur and Purim. As we know, Yom Kippur is a solemn day when we fast, wear white clothing and separate from worldly enjoyments, while Purim is a festive day of eating, drinking, dressing up and being in a state of happiness and joy.
So then, what does the Vilna Gaon mean?
In next week’s Parsha we will read about the grave sin of the golden calf in which some of the Jews were involved. As a result, the Tablets were shattered and G-d wished to wipe out the Jewish nation and begin anew with Moshe. Moshe, in Heaven, pleaded with G-d to spare the nation and G-d finally listened to him and accepted the nation’s repentance. G-d sent Moshe down the mountain with a new set of Tablets, which displayed His forgiveness for their sin. This event took place on the Tenth day of Tishrei which developed into the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur.
Purim is the day we celebrate the Jewish nation being saved from the wicked Haman’s decree that all Jews be killed on the 13th day of Adar. Through Queen Esther and Mordechai’s intervention, King Achashvairosh granted permission for the Jews to defend themselves on the 13th of Adar. The Jews were successful in their war against their foes and on the 14th day of Adar they were able to celebrate their victory. As a result, Mordechai and the Sages instituted a festive holiday of Purim to be celebrated by listening to the Megilla of Esther at night and by day, by sending parcels of food to others, by giving money freely to the poor, and by having a festive meal accompanied by wine.
Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner o.b.m. points out that we indeed see some striking similarities between Yom Kippur and Purim. Before each of these holidays were established – the Jewish nation were faced with a threat of extinction.
Before the Tablets were given on Yom Kippur, G-d wished to wipe the Jews out because of the grave sin of the golden calf.
So too, before the Purim miracle, all Jews around the world were under the threat of extinction due to Haman’s edict.
We find additional similarities: Experiencing Yom Kippur takes away the sins that we have been guilty of in our relationship with G-d. However, a sin or issue that we have with another person, can only be forgiven if we ask the other person forgiveness.
A law established for the Holiday of Purim is that we send prepared foods to others. The basic act of doing so engenders friendship, and in many cases repairs relationships.
The Chida points out that on Yom Kippur the high priest drew lots to determine which of the identical goats goes to Azazel and which is to be offered to G-d. The name Purim means lots – referring to the lots that Haman drew to determine the day of genocide for the Jews.
So why are Yom Kippur and Purim observed in opposite ways?
For 80 days, from the time Moshe destroyed the golden calf until the 10th of Tishrei, Moshe was in Heaven defending the Jewish nation and beseeching G-d. All the negotiations were held in the spiritual Heavenly spheres. Yom Kippur is therefore modeled this way. We act angel-like, without indulging in our physical interests.
However, Purim played itself out on earth. There were only a few major players, Achashveirosh, Vashti, Haman, Esther and Mordechai. Of course, the Jews did their part in fasting, praying and repenting while Queen Esther risked her life when she approached the king uninvited.
G-d’s name does not appear in the Megilla. Which means the story could be read without noticing G-d in the picture. It is only with the discerning eye of a Jew who follows the wisdom and information of our Sages that gives us the hidden information that reveals G-d’s Hand within the entire event.
Thus, Purim is observed differently. We take the physical and transform it into the spiritual. The Megilla story inspires us – it instructs us how to celebrate as human beings, by sharing foods with others and by sharing our money with the poor. We partake in a festive delicious meal with the accompaniment of wine – and we are challenged as to how we act when our guard is loosened.
Our Sages tell us, “When wine is drunk– secrets come out.” We all know that when one is inebriated his filter is compromised, so what did our Sages want?
The Holiday of Purim brings out the secret what a Jew can achieve with heightened levels of happiness and joy. Purim, cloaked with all its spiritual energy, is the time when the true secrets of a Jew – their inner desire to recognize and serve the Almighty and to live in harmony with one another – comes out.
Perhaps, this is what the Vilna Gaon meant – “What we achieve on Yom Kippur could match up with what we attain on the Holiday of Purim!”
