This year the Jewish holiday of Purim is from the night of Feb. 25 until the night of Feb. 26.
The Book of Esther tells the whole story of Purim and how and why it is celebrated. The 10-page narrative reads like a made-for-entertainment suspense story that builds to what looks like an imminent Jewish massacre and then the tightly-knit plot takes a turn that leads to a happy rescue-ending of salvation and glorious triumph.
Purim gift giving is not as widely practiced as Chanukkah gift giving even though it is the Purim custom of gift giving that is religiously required in Judaism.
Giving food to starving people is giving life. Giving food to neighbors not starving is a show of affection. It is giving love. Rabbis teach that even the poverty stricken are not exempt from the Purim mitzvah (precept) of giving mishloach-manot.
They suggest that the poor can fulfill the obligation by swapping among themselves the mishloach-manot they had already received from others. Clearly, it is the thought behind the giving that counts.
The Purim celebration of love through giving mishloach-manot can be seen, so to speak, as a Jewish alternative to Valentine’s Day. A heart-shaped box of kosher assorted chocolates with a card inscribed “Be my Purim Day Mitzvah” would make a lovely mishloach-manot gift.
A Purim pastry popularly included in the traditional mishloach-manot refreshments is the hamantash which, perhaps not coincidentally, is even more anatomically heart-shaped than a valentine.
Purim and Valentine’s Day are so near to each other that it is as though the world has to embrace the heart-warming theme of love for mutual emotional support to endure the chill of the long winter season.
Mishloach-manot is the outreach of little random acts of loving kindness. It automatically serves to draw people together in a bond of unity. Fear of arch-villain Haman’s decree united ancient Jewry against the enemies who sought Jewish destruction.
Giving mishloach-manot serves to unite Jews through love for one another rather than through fear of a “ Haman.” Unity strengthens a people so that they can better defend themselves.
Purim’s timeless lesson is that unity helps to rescue minorities from imminent disaster: “…and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim shall not fail from among the Jews nor the memorial of them cease from their seed.” (Book of Esther-9:28)
Hersh Goldman
Swampscott
