A Gantz Yur Purim – Purim All Year Long
מחר אעשה כדבר המלך
"Tomorrow I will do as the king says." (Esther 5:8)
The Shem Mishmuel said there is no kiddush on Purim, so we shouldn't make havdolah, either. This means we should keep the teshuvah and inspiration we attain on Purim for the entire year.
A bochur was drunk on Purim and told Reb Mottel Slonimer zt”l that he wanted to do teshuvah. Reb Motel told him, “Come back to speak with me about it tomorrow.” It is easy to say you will improve your ways, but the trick is to do so tomorrow.” Do you want to improve your ways then, as well? This is hinted in Esther's words:מחר אעשה כדבר המלך – “Tomorrow I will do as the king says."
A poor person went to a wealthy person Friday night and said, “I need so much money. I have so many debts. Can you give me ten thousand dollars?”
The wealthy man replied, “Could be. Perhaps. But now it's Shabbos. Let's discuss it after Shabbos.”
Shabbos morning, the poor man came over to the wealthy man again and said, “In addition, maybe you can give me a loan for one hundred thousand dollars so that I can cover all my debts.”
“That is also possible. We'll discuss it after Shabbos.”
Shalosh seudos time, the poor man sees that he is connecting well with this wealthy person, so he returns and says, “Perhaps you can make me a partner in your business.”
“It could be,” the wealthy man replies. “I'm not against it. But now it's Shabbos. Come to me after Shabbos, and we will discuss it.”
The poor man is so happy. Finally, he can see the end of the dark tunnel of his tzaros. After Shabbos, he looks for the wealthy man, and he can't find him. When he finally finds him, the poor man says, “Nu. What is your decision?”
“About what?” the wealthy man asked.
“What we discussed! Ten thousand dollars for tzedokah, a hundred-thousand-dollar loan, and the partnership.”
“We discussed that on Shabbos,” the wealthy man said, “but now it isn't Shabbos anymore.”
Similarly, people make great, lofty plans on Purim, resolutions for the future, but the trick is to actually keep them after Purim passes. It says in Megillas Esther: ולא יעבור (9:27), and Rebbe Henoch of Alexander zt”l explains that this means that Purim should never pass, never leave us. What we acquire should remain with us forever. (R’ Elimelech Biderman)
