When Adar enters, joy increases
Talmud Bavli Ta’anit 29a

At the end of February, we enter into a time of celebration and rejoicing as we dress up and observe the holiday of Purim. Purim is a holiday that commemorates reversals of fortunes. We celebrate that we survived another attempt to wipe us out. We celebrate the happy ending of the Megillah in which the good are rewarded and the bad are punished. And, more than anything, we celebrate that the Jewish people have not only survived but have thrived to become a great and powerful nation.

Purim is unique among the Jewish holidays. While it might look like most other holidays, at its core, Purim is subversive and farcical; it is a holiday of rebellion and ribaldry. We are told by the rabbis that we are to mix up the heroes and the villains, that we are to think that up is down and down is up.

Purim tells the somewhat comical tale of Mordechai, his niece Esther, and their adventures in the land of Shushan during the Persian dynasty under the rule of King Achashverosh (Ahasuerus). Mordechai is a nobleman in the empire who has some (albeit limited) access to the king. Mordechai’s enemy, Haman does not like Mordechai and vows to destroy him and the entire Jewish people. After Achashverosh kills his first wife for disobeying him, Mordechai suggests to his niece that she compete to become the next Mrs. Achashverosh. When Esther wins the crown, she is put in the perfect position to stop the genocide that Haman has convinced Achashverosh to order.

In celebration of Mordechai and Esther’s successful efforts to save the Jews, the Jewish elders declared a holiday to be celebrated every year. The Megillah tells us that this day is “a day of joy, feasting and merrymaking.” This is a holiday designed for us as Jews not only to rejoice but to eat to make merry.

For almost as long as I can remember I haven’t been a big fan of Purim. For many reasons, it has never been my favorite. I thought it was lacking in substance. I thought that the reading of the Megillah took too long and, for most of my life I have felt that the Purim services were just a bit too loud. I never enjoyed when people would scream and yell whenever the Haman’s name was read. What is a holiday if it’s just about having fun? What does it mean that we are supposed to celebrate a day of “merrymaking?” It seemed like people were trying a bit too hard to have fun.

On Purim, we are told by the rabbis that we are to confuse Mordechai with Haman; that we are to forget who the villain is and who is the hero. On Purim, there is none of the seriousness and solemnity of some of the other holidays. There is no fasting, only feasting, there is no withholding, there is only indulging. We are to eat, drink, and be merry on Purim, and that is not comfortable for everyone.

I’ve come to love Purim, and its message to let go, and to not take everything so seriously. Some might think that it’s antithetical to the rabbinic view of Judaism, but the rabbis knew that laughter and humor were a part of our religion. They saw the need to be able to cut loose every once in a while, and they embraced it.

The rabbis knew that along with reverence for God, there must be joy in celebrating our relationship with our creator. Purim allows us to cut loose, and to not think of a judgmental, removed God, but of a people who have overcome great struggles to celebrate our continued survival. Purim provides us with a space to bathe in the joy, and pleasure that comes with being a part of a community.

For too long, we have come to think of Judaism as this solemn, serious thing. Many of us were taught to go to shul/synagogue/temple in our finest suits, to not make any noise, and to behave in a “dignified” manner. Purim turns all of that on its head and reminds us that Judaism is also about joy. Purim reminds us that happiness is a great thing. It shows us that while we guard overindulgence the rest of the year, there is nothing inherently wrong with experiencing some pleasure in this world. To live and thrive is something to be celebrated. Whether as a people or as individuals, this life can be difficult at times, and we have to remind ourselves of the blessings and happiness that surrounds us.

Too often we make a point to gather for sad or serious occasions. Purim offers us the opportunity to be together in joy, to celebrate our uniqueness (or the uniqueness of our costume), and to increase our joy.

May this be a happy and festive Purim for all of us, and may we find many occasions to make merry together.