Not surprisingly, there are those commentators who reframe what the Rama said. The Mishnah Berurah says that what the Rama meant was that it is good to increase festivity in honor of the miracles that happened during this time of year. The Rama’s point is adjusted to mean “celebrate God’s miracles.” The Kaf HaChaim, using some word association which I will not get into for the sake of brevity, claims the verse the Rama is quoting should actually be interpreted as one who loves Torah engages joyfully in Torah learning all of the time.

Many suggest another avenue for understanding the Rama. The chapter in which Purim Katan is discussed is the final chapter in the Orach Chaim section of Shulchan Aruch. And this verse is the final word that the Rama writes in the entire Orach Chaim: “one of good heart, has a party (mishteh) constantly – Tamid.” The first words that the Rama writes in Orach Chaim are “I place God before me constantly – Tamid,” a verse from Tehillim.

The Rama is encapsulating, with this literary envelope encompassing Orach Chaim, his view of how to live a life of mitzvot. One begins by placing God firmly in front of themselves in their mind’s eye constantly. One then engages in a life full of daily mitzvot – the content of Orach Chaim in between the first and last lines – tying one’s experience to God consciousness. And then, by doing so, one succeeds in become “good hearted,” able to see the goodness of God in every day and every circumstance. When one experiences life like that, the natural reaction is to celebrate, joyfully constantly.

I would add that this message is the central message of Purim, and it was therefore fitting for the Rama to make this point while discussing Purim. On Purim we realize how God is present in everything, even the hidden moments. When we can cultivate that attitude every day, no matter how great, terrible or regular and boring, every day is in fact worthy of constant celebration.

Shabbat Shalom,



Rabbi Noam Stein

Parents, you should have received in the mail Kohelet parking placards to keep in your cars when you come to campus - drop off and pick up or for an event. If you have not yet received a placard or need an extra one, please email Miriam Morley. For security purposes, it is important that you display the placard in your car when you drive onto our campus.

As the culmination of learning about the mitzvah of Dan Lekaf Zechut – judging people favorably – our middle school students read books that they wrote about Dan Lekaf Zechut to our K-3 students. 

On "Go Purple Day," our high school students heard from the Shalom Task Force about the topic of healthy relationships and raising awareness and preventing domestic abuse in the Jewish community.