Today is Shabbat and Purim. With the afternoon in full swing, we began our Zohar Study. As Rabbi Jim took the time to give us a look at Purim through Kabalistic eyes, the secrets of Purim, its serious side, began to unfold. I’m still fairly new to the Jewish ways, almost three years now. Up to today Purim for me has been likened to a Mardi Gras; masks, disguises, fun a lot of hardy partying, and a very physical and materialistic dramatization of good and evil through action out the story of Esther.
Rabbi Jim made the comparison of Sinai to Purim by explaining that at Sinai we took the Commandments, not fully knowing what we had. With Purim, we now were realizing fully what we had, and we chose the Commandments. The way I see it, it’s all about viewpoint. We were not all totally ready at Sinai to accept in our hearts and fully own what was given to us at the time. Just like in our own lives, we can recognize something, know it to be fact, but until we take it on for ourselves, “own it,” have we made the choice that transforms us to a higher level of life.
We then discussed the spiritual presence of God on Yom Kippur, and compared it to Purim with its physical presence of God. Rabbi Jim drew our attention to how, through the entire store of Esther, God’s name is not mentioned – evidencing no need to mention God because the Oneness’ presence is everywhere. This visualization of good and evil being sources in the same reality is the best visualization of Purim for me.
We read from the Midrash Mishle 9:2 “When all the other festivals will be abolished (in messianic times) Purim will remain.” So now I ask myself… if Purim is the example of the good and evil wrapped up together, sourced in the same Reality, and if only Purim will remain in messianic times, then what would the New World vision look like? Everyday is Purim? Possibly!
Here’s one last thought I hold dear and strongly believe in my heart of hearts: God is Energy. This all-present Energy threw Itself out into the most distant corners of existence at the time of Creation. Good, evil, free will, destiny, good luck, bad luck, chance, and man – it’s all there and always has been. How we choose to use the Energy creates the good or evil we see in this Universe. Bad things don’t happen to good people because of our Source and good things don’t happen to us because of that Source either. Our Source is only the Observer. How we choose to co-create with this Energy of all existence is our responsibility. It’s time we stop blaming our Source for all the good and evil in our Universe. The good and evil that is created throughout our Universe, and exists in our midst, is either our own humanity or inhumanity to our fellow brothers and sisters. That’s how I see it! With that said, then it becomes ever more important that we repair our Universe.