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Purim Saturday Night
Saturday night we will end Shabbat and go right into Purim. We will end Shabbat Zachor, remembering what the Amalakites did to us and go directly into a holiday that is filled with joy: costumes, singing, drinking and gifts for our friends.
It is also hard this year.
In the middle of a war, with the rise in antisemitism, it doesn’t feel like there’s much room for celebration. And yet, we will celebrate.
Rabbi Ari Hasit commented after attending a service in Hostage square with the sister of one of the hostages, that he felt like he was putting on a mask. He noticed a connection between the beginning of our parsha this week and the end of Megillah Esther. The first word of our parsha is וַיִּקְרָא, Vayikra, but the last letter, the alef, is smaller than the other letters. And at the end of Megillat Esther, we read:
לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשֹׂן וִיקָר׃
The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor.
Without the alef at the end of Vayikra, it becomes Vayikar, the same word that concludes the line from Esther. He imagined the Torah telling us that we will have light and joy.
He pointed out that even though we may have arrived at the next joyous holiday, 167 days later, there are still those kept in captivity and we must continue to hope and pray for their return and for peace. And even when we say that there will be light and gladness and happiness and joy, sometimes, it feels like a mask.
This line, in chapter 8 of Megillah Esther, is also recited as part of Havdalah. So, when we say those words this week, as Shabbat ends, we will declare that “The Jews enjoy light and gladness, happiness and honor.” And we will., I hope you’ll join us in feeling joy and gladness, in turning the world upside down. Even if you feel like you’re wearing a mask.
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