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Purim Stories and Torahs from
| Torahs from the Heart by Rabbi Yisroel Finman |
| The Schpoile Zeide's Purim Shpiel The Schpoile Zeide, lived about 200 years ago, had a disciple who lived in Romania. A business competitor turned him into the governmental authorities, accusing him of tax evasion. The chosid traveled to Schpoile to seek advice from his Rebbe. The Rebbe instructed him to have the court case scheduled for Purim afternoon. He further advised him that as for an attorney, he, the disciple would recognize him at the courthouse as wearing red mittens and a white hat. The Schpoile Zeide also mentioned that there was a poor bride that needed 300 rubles for her wedding and dowry, which the Chosid gladly donated, despite his preoccupation with his own troubles.. That Purim, the Rebbe as usual scheduled a Purim schpiel (parody play) at his Purim feast. That year’s schpiel would be the court case in Romania. The chief rabbi of Schpoile playede the judge, the Rebbe played the attorney, replete with red mittens and white hat. The rest of the players were cast. The prosecution went first. Every time the poor fellow would open his mouth and make an accusation, everyone in the room would laugh. He could not get a syllable out of his mouth. Next came the defense. The Schpoile Zeide presented a brilliant Perry Mason-esque dissertation extolling the virtues of the defendant and totally discrediting the witnesses. The verdict was reached:not guilty. Several weeks later, this disciple returned to Schpoile with the good news of his acquittal. The residents prodded him for details. Much to their amazement, the trial in Romania went pretty much the way it did in Schpoile. The details of the defendant's attorney’s oration were identical to the arguments given by the Rebbe in the Purim Shpiel, as were his garments- red mittens and a white hat! When the chosid greeted his Rebbe in a private audience, the Rebbe congratulated him on his victory and told him that the eloquent lawyer was a defending angel created in the merit of charity he gave for the poor bride. THE CANE The Holy Sanzer Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, needed a cane in order to walk. Before his wedding, his future wife initially refused the match, not wishing to marry this cripple. Reb Chaim called on her and asked that she look into a mirror. Doing so, she saw she, not Reb Chaim, was lame. The Sanzer explained, "Before you were born, it was decreed in heaven that you be the lame one but I refused to allow you to suffer. I refused to be born until I prayed that our places in this world be reversed." Nobody could get a zetz (a nudge) from the Sanzer's cane, and not leave this world without fixing what he came here to do. In later years, the Sanzer discontinued using his cane on the hasidim, until the wedding of his youngest grandaughter. The hasidim lined up before the Rebbe and each got a zetz from the cane of the Holy Sanzer. The Sanzer's cane was passed down the generations up until the present Rebbe of Bobov, Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam of Boro Park, at the time of the second World War. Recognized by the SS, the Bobover Rebbe jumped off a train, having to leave the Sanzer's cane behind him. The Bobover Rebbe escaped, but the cane was taken by the SS. The Sanzer's cane was never seen again, though it is said that Hitler, crippled after an attempt on his life, walked with this cane at least once. Nowadays, when Megillah is read in Bobov, the Rebbe gives a tap with his cane each time Haman's name is mentioned. |
| ADAR/PURIM “Meshenichnas Adar Marbin Besimcha” Usual Translation: When (the month of) Adar enters, we increase joy. Chozeh of Lublin's Translation: When (the month of) Adar enters, we increase the side of holiness via joy. Every month has its’ distinct and inherent features. That is, just as one month is colder than the others, one hotter than the others, one darker than the others, one month allows plums to ripen, another allows oranges to ripen etc. so too, each month has spiritual qualities which are distinct and inherent to that month. Elul, the month before the High Holy Days, has the feature of coming full circle, returning to its source, hence the Selichos, supplicational prayers and deep introspection associated with that month. Tishrei, the month of the High holy Days, is the month of rebirth because Adam and Eve were created during that month. In Tishrei, we shed our old ways, like a lobster molts its shell, and grow into new, more fitting garments. Kislev, the month of Chanukah, the darkest month of the year, is actually the month of small, pinpoint focused light, hence Chanukah, the small focused light that dispels great darkness. Last month, Shevat, is the month of awakening, of delving into our deepest, darkest inner recesses in order to find one positive point upon which to begin the growth process, therefore Tu B’shevat. Adar is the month of joy. It is adjacent to Shevat because it is the continuation of the growth progression that began, like the trees re-awakening, and continues until Shavuos, the time when the first fruits ripen. During Adar, the days are becoming longer and the darkness of night is shorter. But it is still cold and dark. Purim typifies Adar’s special features. The Megillah never mentions G*d. The Megillah was written by and named for a woman, Esther. Esther in Hebrew means hidden. During the events leading up to Purim, G-d looked like he was hidden. And yet, it seems strange that G*d is not even mentioned in the Megillah! Since G-d saved us from extinction, shouldn’t the name of G*d be prominently featured? No! That is the month of Nissan, the month of Passover, the month of revealed freedom. Purim, when darkness still prevails, demonstrates to us that it is easy to believe in G*d when G*d is clearly manifest, when everything is all right, but it is far more precious to recognize G*d in the midst of darkness. G*d’s presence exists in darkness and obscurity every bit as much as when there is great light. It is only a matter of perception, of having spiritual contact lenses to correct our spiritual vision. When I first became Torah observant back in the 60’s, I could not understand why all the yeshivas were in New York City instead of in the mountains or in the country. After all, a place dedicated to becoming closer to Hashem should be located in an area wherein it is inherently easier to see G*d, surrounded by the pristine beauty of nature as pure as the days of creation. After a while, I came to understand that anybody could find G*d in the mountains or countryside but it takes a dedicated seeker to find G*d in the midst of New York City, which is filled with man made distractions. The further one travels to find G-d, the more it is appreciated by G*d. In Nissan, when G*d personally carries us on eagles’ wings and drags us out of our Egyptian hells, it is easy to see G*d’s presence and to be thankful. But during Adar, when it is still dark, finding G*d is more difficult. It seems as if Hashem were hiding. But it’s not Hashem hiding, it is our inability to see Hashem because of the darkness. Our finding G-d amidst the darkness results in greater joy, both G*d’s and ours. It is not that Adar is the month of joy because of Purim but that Purim, the holiday of unlimited joy, had to fall out in Adar, the month of finding joy and light amidst the darkness and concealment. Purim falls out in Adar because Haman cast lots to find a date. The lots, which were controlled by G*d as is everything, came out in Adar. G*d chose the month of Adar. By virtue of its’ inherent joy, Adar is the month which increases us, and thereby our holiness. And as in every case, the greater the vessel we prepare, the more we receive. The days between Tu B’Shevat and Purim are intended for us to take the happiness of discovering that small bit of inner substance that was discovered on TuB’Shevat and allow it to grow and spread throughout our systems, thereby infusing us with joy, just as the tree takes that small bit of sap and begins to grow. In this way, we prepare ourselves to receive the unlimited joy of Purim, when the holiday arrives. Good Purim! Good Purim! Good Purim! Torahs from the Heart is sponsored by NISHMAT KOL CHAI “innovative solutions for jewish problems” Rabbi Yisroel Finman—Founder and Director |
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| Rabbi Yisroel & Judy Finman |
| “Meshenichnas Adar Marbin Besimcha— When (the month of) Adar enters,happiness is increased" (Talmud) |
| great healing properties this month, especially when they result from insight into the underlying unity of what seems on the surface to be incongruous or disparate.” From Kabbalah Month by Month by Melinda Ribner “When the month of Adar enters, joy increases." (Talmud) Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, the S’fas Emes (1847-1905) comments: “When the essence of Adar enters one’s inner self, one’s Joy will be multiplied” |