Annulling Decrees:
Sefer Meor Vashemes (Parshas Shekalim) writes that during the month of Adar “Hashem’s chasadim are revealed” and one can even “uproot harsh decrees by their roots.” In the days of Mordechai and Esther, Klal Yisroel merited being miraculously saved and granted new life. The influence of this miracle returns every year and allows for us to be miraculously saved from harsh decrees.
Purim Atones Even for Those Who Do Not Repent:
It is stated in Tikunei Zohar (Tikun 21) that “Purim is named after Yom Kippur.” The Ruzhiner Rebbe zy”a (Ner Yisroel L’Purim) states that although it sounds from the words of the Zohar that Yom Kippur is greater than Purim – as Purim is only “named after” Yom Kippur – “I say that Purim is even greater than Yom Kippur.” He discerns this from the fact that Yom Kippur is called Yom Kippurim – a day “like Purim” – which indicates that it is akin to Purim but not quite as great.
He explains why this is so by saying that the day of Yom Kippur only atones for those who do teshuva but not for those who don’t (as is stated in Rambam, Hilchos Shegagos 3:5 and Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim 606), whereas the day of Purim atones even for those who don’t do teshuva, as Chazal say (Yerushalmi Megillah 1:4): “Anyone who stretches out his hand is provided for”, even if he doesn’t deserve it.
We see that Chazal knew that the day of Purim is even more powerful than the day of Yom Kippur. How did Chazal know this? The Ruzhiner Rebbe explains that they discerned this from the pasuk that says (Esther 9:27): “They fulfilled it and they accepted it.” Chazal (Megillah 7A) understand this to mean that what was accepted in this world was fulfilled Above. In this world, Klal Yisroel accepted to give Matanos l’evyonim to anyone who asked, without any investigation into whether or not he deserves it, and in the Upper World, it was fulfilled that everyone would receive atonement, without investigating whether he deserves it or not.
Chazal (Yoma 85B) do quote the opinion of Rebbe that Yom Kippur atones both for those who do teshuva and those who don’t. The Meor Einayim (Parshas Ha’azinu) asks how it is possible to say that Yom Kippur atones for those who don’t repent, as Chazal say (Bava Kama 50A) that “if one says that Hashem is forgiving (meaning that He forgives sins without the need for teshuva) he relinquishes his life.”
He answers that, in truth, Yom Kippur does not atone for those who don’t do teshuva. The Gemara’s true intent is that, as the Zohar Hakadosh says, some sins are so great that they “damage the foundation of the world”, and those sins usually cannot be atoned for. On Yom Kippur, however, it is even possible to find atonement for sins that are normally “beyond teshuva”.
It is known that when the Rebbe of Vilednik zy”a heard the Meor Einayim say these words, he related that he heard a pronouncement ring out from the Bais Din Shel Maaloh saying, “The halacha is like Nochum.” (The Meor Einayim’s name was Rav Menachem Nochum of Chernobyl.)
We again see how Purim is greater than Yom Kippur in the sense that Yom Kippur only atones for those who do teshuva, while Purim atones even for those who do not repent and even for the type of aveiros that teshuva usually does not work for.
Reaching the Level of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur:
Sefer Divrei Yechezkel writes that the reason Purim is greater than Yom Kippur is because on Yom Kippur, only the Kohen Gadol reached the highest level of kedusha, but on Purim every Jew can reach the same level of holiness that the Kohen Gadol reached on Yom Kippur.
On Purim, One Can Even Ask for Luxuries:
The pasuk states (Esther 9:12): “What is your request and I will give it to you, and what do you ask for additionally, and I will do it.” My grandfather, the Kreitchnifer Rebbe zy”a, explains that the word “additionally” (od) is reference to “mosros” (luxuries), which a person wants but does not really need to survive. Usually, it is difficult to ask Hashem for such things. However, on the day of Purim all gates of Heaven are open to our prayers and one can even ask Him for luxuries.
All the Year’s Tefillos Ascend:
Alternatively, he explains the pasuk to mean that Purim is an auspicious time for all our tefillos and requests from the entire year to be accepted by Hashem, even if they were unable to ascend until now because it was not an “eis ratzon”.
The Tefillos Rise Above:
The Kamarna Rebbe zy”a (Sefer Nidvos Pi, Moser Hashekalim, page 8) writes: “We have a tradition that on the day of Purim a simple soul can ascend to the chamber of a great tzadik, with nothing standing in his way. So too, all tefillos ascend to ‘the kesser’, with no obstructions... For this reason, Mordechai’s name was changed after the miracle to ‘Pesachya’, to symbolize that all gates to Heaven were opened for everyone to ascend without being judged...”
All Sins Are Forgiven:
Sefer Shem M’Shmuel (Parshas Tetzaveh 5675) writes that a decree was sealed to eradicate Klal Yisroel, as is stated (Esther 8:8): “And a letter that is written with the name of the king and sealed with the king’s seal cannot be rescinded.” But they received new life from the Upper Worlds through the intermediaries of Mordechai and Esther. They were now considered to be like newborn babies, meaning that all their previous sins were no longer connected to them, and there can be no greater source of joy than this.
This influence remains for all generations. On Purim, we are provided with new life, which fills our hearts with the greatest joy possible.
Even a Rasha Can be Close to Hashem:
Sefer Divrei Shmuel explains the words we recite in the song of Shoshanas Yaakov “and also Charvonah should be remembered for good”, as follows:
Purim is a time when Hashem sends many good influences to the world. It is a blessed time that is in some ways loftier than all other days of the year, including Shabbos. Shabbos is a day that is “more blessed than all days and more holy than all times”, but Purim has its own unique level of holiness that enables every individual to draw close to Hashem. Even if a person is on the level of “Charvonah”, who is called a rasha (Megillah 16A), he can also be “remembered for good” on Purim. On Purim, even the biggest rasha is instilled with goodness.
Salvations Even for Those With no Merits:
In Shoshanas Yaakov, we recite the words “teshu’asam hayisa lanetzach v’sikvasam l’chol dor v’dor”, their salvation will be eternal and their hope will be for all generations. The Sefas Emes zy”a (Purim 5635) explains that the decree was to eradicate all Jews for all time. Accordingly, the salvation was an eternal miracle that affects all generations, as we all are only alive because of this miracle.
He adds that it is stated in Sefarim Hakedoshim that Hashem miraculously saved us even though we did not deserve it. He sent us our salvation solely because we are His beloved chosen nation and He desired to save us. Therefore, this holiday is a day of hope and encouragement for us all, as it symbolizes how Hashem helps us and saves us simply because of his love for us.
He concludes that this also may be the reason we are commanded to celebrate on Purim “until we don’t know the difference...” This symbolizes that Hashem saves us out of His great love for us, even if we are undeserving and, so to speak, “do not know the difference between right and wrong.”
