Rabbi Liberman – Providing for Our Community
Purim and Pesach are not usually considered holiday observances of the
same stature, yet both teach an equally important value of what it means to find fulfillment in these respective celebrations.
On Purim, in the midst of our joyous holiday of overcoming the test to our very survival, we are reminded that there are still challenges to the ongoing existence of others around us. In the ninth chapter of Megilat Esther, as we acknowledge the significance of our yearly celebration escaping near annihilation, we are also given several specific rules as part of our observance. “The days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that
they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
As much as we observe this post-Biblical holiday by hearing the story of Esther, blotting out Haman’s evil name and eating Hamantashen, is the need if not great responsibility, to share our wealth of triumph with others – both in celebration through Mishloah Manot, the giving of joyful gifts to friends, and in sustenance through gifts to those in need through Matanot L’evyonim.
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld suggests that the significant mitzvah of Mishloach Manot actually derives from the essential mitzvah of giving gifts to the poor on Purim. How is that? Due to concern that the poor would feel ashamed that only they did not have sufficient means to provide for the Purim meal, the rabbis decreed that not only the poor but all people should send and receive gifts on the holiday of Purim. Judaism has always recognized that among us will be those with less and that our responsibility is to provide for them as we provide for ourselves. Additionally, however, is the necessary mitzvah of Kavod HaBriyot, the preservation of dignity among all of God’s creations. Thus, by including all in gift giving, while providing special consideration making sure that the poor among us are honorably able to celebrate, our gift of giving is brought to a new level.
Unlike Purim, on Pesach we concern ourselves with some of the most elaborate food needs of any festival celebration. As the first of three Biblical festival observances (Exodus12:21-51), we are told that certain foods and rituals would be essential parts of this festival. There is no other celebration in our calendar for which we spend such time and meticulous detail in preparing not just the food but our homes and ourselves for the eights days ahead all as meaningful connections to our passage into freedom. From this origin, our rabbinic tradition also understood that all must be able to celebrate.
Maot Hittim, ‘wheat money’was a compulsory community tax that today is the call to all Jews to give charitable donations to the poor so that all may celebrate as one who is free. Unlike for Purim, however, this mitzvah seems to stand alone in our responsibility specifically to reach out to those in need. In preserving the dignity of all in our community, no one should go without, the least of which is the celebration of a Seder. This mitzvah is taught in the opening section of the Haggadah when we chant, Kol dechphene Yatey V’yechul, “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” Many even have the custom to set an extra place at their seder table to both symbolically and literally assure that the hungry guest feel as one who was invited with the same Kavanah (intention) as all other guests.
Beth Jacob provides our members with the means to include this essential ingredient in the celebration of both Purim and Pesach. At Purim, in your Shul gift of Mishloach Manot, we urge you to perform the Mitzvah of Matanot Levyonim by placing a bag for you to fill with nonperishable food and then to bring it to shul at the Megillah reading. And for Pesach, you will find a form (contained in this edition of Kol Yaakov and elsewhere) that readily invites you to participate in the
Mitzvah of Maot Hittim by making charitable contributions which in turn will be used for those in need.
Judaism teaches that it is not enough to ensure celebration for ourselves, nor is it enough to merely speak the themes of survival and freedom associated with Purim and Pesach. Rather it is incumbent upon us to also take action to help create our complete engagement in these holidays for every member of our community, an opportunity of Kedushah that is all our sacred responsibility.
Wishing every member of our community a Hag Purim Sameach and a Hag HaKasher v’sameach for Pesach!
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Lynn Liberman
Director of Congregational Learning