It’s only natural that as we age, we find it more difficult to tap into ecstatic joy. We’ve experienced pain and we’ve had our wings clipped a few times too many.
Purim exists exactly for that reason. It’s message is simple and clear: Be happy.
Show your bliss. Sing loud in synagogue. Skip down the street. Let go of embarrassment, of etiquette, of expectations. Banish cynicism. Get in touch with your inner kid.
Everything about Purim tells us to celebrate life and not to give up despite seemingly overwhelming odds. Life can indeed have a happy ending.
Even the timing of Purim is perfect. The days are growing longer. It’s not quite as cold. Over the past couple of weeks, the Bay Area hills have started to turn green and the trees have begun to flower. Spring is just around the corner. Go out into nature, breathe in the fresh air, glory in the beauty.
The traditions of Purim inherently lend themselves to reveling in life: We eat hamantaschen, wear wacky costumes, attend a big party, act ridiculous, get tipsy or even drunk, and make noise, noise and more noise.
Two other Purim traditions also urge us to delight in life: matanot la’evoyonim (giving gifts to the poor) and mishloach manot (giving gifts to friends).
On the surface, tzedakah might equal responsibility in your mind. But when you help the poor, you get to acknowledge what you have — instead of focusing on what you lack.
And giving gifts to friends — even a small gift like a plateful of hamantaschen — lets them know how much you value their presence in your life. You can even add a note, listing the things you appreciate about them. And don’t forget, your friends might happen to be family members too.
Actually good friends are a lot like Purim.
Around them, we let down our guard. We laugh and play and just let go.
Chag sameach!