By the Grace of G-d
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Mevorchim Chodesh Adar, 5739
Brooklyn, N.Y.
To all Participants in the
Pre Purim Chassidic Festival
Vancouver, British Columbia
Greetings and Blessings,
The timing of the Chassidic Festival to take place in the week of Purim is highly significant, for there is an intimate linkage of this event to Purim.
One of the essential aspects of the Festival of Purim, as the Megillah tells us, is the extraordinary Jewish response to Haman’s decree. With a loyal Jewish daughter as the Queen of Persia, and with Mordechai’s influence at the court, one would have expected Mordechai to respond, first of all, by using the Jewish “lobby” to discredit Haman. Instead, on learning of Haman’s decree, Mordechai, first of all, launches a Teshuva movement for all Jews to return to G-d, and rounds up Jewish children to teach them Torah, and only then requests Esther to intervene with the King. Yet it was precisely this seemingly “irrational” approach that brought about the miracle of Purim, and the downfall of Haman, and the reversal of the Jewish situation from sadness to gladness, to “...light, joy, gladness, and honour”.
This lesson of Purim which, like all teachings of the Torah, is eternal, is embodied also in the very name of Purim: The Festival of Lots, for the method of casting lots to make a decision is certainly not rational, inasmuch as the decision is not based on rational calculations and foreseeable results.
The choice of the date of the Chassidic Festival of Song and Music in proximity with Purim is significant also in the following sense. Human responses in terms of thought, word, and action are limited, particularly when it concerns human response to Divine imperative. But the Jewish soul intuitively strives to transcend the limitations of thought and word. In its innate thirst for G-dliness it seeks expression in ecstasy and joy, the very ingredients of song and melody. Chassidic song and melody inspires and permeates one’s whole being so that all the Jew’s activities (and not only the actual fulfillment of Mitzvot) in his everyday life and conduct be “for the sake of heaven” in the spirit of “serving G-d with joy”.
This is why song and melody occupy such an important place in the Chassidic way of life, and indeed in Jewish life in general.
May G-d grant that this “Chassidic Experience” should serve as a lasting source of inspiration to each and all participants; to illuminate your souls and the souls of Jews all around you with the light of Torah and Mitzvot permeated with Chassidic fervor and joy, for an ever growing commitment and dedication to the Torah way in all aspects of the everyday life in the true spirit of Purim, and for the fullest measure of light, joy, gladness, and honour in the ordinary sense as well as in the deeper meaning of these terms: light, this is Torah, etc.
With esteem and blessing of Hatzlocho and wishes for a joyful Purim,
/Signature/
