Ki sisa es rosh b'nei Yisrael, let's "pick-up" (the literal translation of ki sisa) and encourage the people of our nation, and number-one ourselves! This parsha is makdim refua lamakeh, mentions the medicine before the wound, and before the episode of the cheit ha'eigel (sin of the golden calf), we are given the remedy: vayigba libo b'darchei Hashem (Divrei haYamim II 17:6), picking up one's heart in the service of Hashem! When we hold ourselves in high enough regard, we automatically cannot even dream of sinning in even the slightest of ways, for we are simply above. If we are struggling in any area, it is a sign that we need another injection of kosher ga'ava and positive pride: "Me?! I'm so much greater than that! Me?! I can save the world! (With Hashem's help)."
Rebbi Chaim Mordechai Vinekrantz z"l once said that ideally a mechanech (teacher) should hold discipline simply through his own greatness, without having to resort to beating up the kids (just joking), and rather hold himself with such goodness that automatically the kids want to respect him, without even having to take off the belt (just a joke).
And now to Purim: Let's be ourselves a Mordechai and Esther, and do what it takes to save the day, each one in their own way! (With rabbinic supervision).
Story:
How does one know if he is doing what halacha (Jewish law) requires from him, or maybe he is falling into different chumros and stringencies that may not be meant for him? Very simple: How do you feel? Are you feeling different negative feelings and emotions inside? (This can often be subconscious). If so, it may be time to get yourself a rabbi that understands you in a positive way, and have a happy life! He will teach you how to apply yourself, and like the Brisker Rav z"l once told his son Rebbi Berel z"l: "Keep away from chumros—they take one out of learning!" (Note: There are some people out there that maybe could use a couple more "chumros"...)
Living a life of emuna and bitachon (faith and reliance on Hashem) is #1, and often times even the slightest halachic stringencies come at the cost of actually living a happy life with Hashem, and distract a person from more important things, like breaking bad middos like fear of people, depression, anxiety, thinking you’re a zero, etc., as well as from engaging more in zikui harabim and public outreach.
In every area in halacha, there is both a machmir (stringent) and a meikil (lenient) approach, like we find with Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel. Though at first glance the machmir approach may seem more frum and righteous, the truth is that for so many of us exactly the opposite is true, and it may be nothing more than a trick and trap of the yeitzer hara to depress us and to distract us from more important things, like getting out and saving Klal Yisrael, each one in their own way! (With a rebbi). And on the topic: For a lot of people living in-town, the best possible advice could be: Out of town! There, you are truly needed, and have a place to bring out your full potential (but everyone's different).
Question:
Advice for a happy Purim.
Answer:
Drink! Why was alcohol created, if not to bring joy to holy Jews on the festival of Purim? That being said, Rebbi Chaim Mordechai Vinekrantz z"l said like this: "Wine does not bring real joy—but three hours of Chovos haLevavos does!" And for our level: Crank up the yiddishe music, each to their own! You know, in Yavan they also have music etc., just that by them it is superficial and fake, whereas by us it is all about one thing: Getting closer to Hashem.
