Yom Kippur, whose full name is Yom Kippurim, is the holiest day of the year. Yet, as is often quoted, it is “like Purim.” It behoves us to explore whether there is actually a basis for this idea that has become part of our tradition. Is Yom Kippur really כפורים? Is it really comparable to Purim? And if so, in what sense is this true?
If we think about how we celebrate these two days, we are struck by how totally dissimilar they are. They are in fact polar opposites. Yom Kippur is spent in fasting and prayer, and we are likened to malachei hashareis, the heavenly angels. We divert our attention from the guf, from our physical needs, and are focused completely on the neshamah. On Purim, on the other hand, we focus almost entirely on the guf, on gashmiyus, indulging in a lavish seudah and becoming intoxicated with wine.
What then, is the connection between Yom Kippur and Purim?
The Tikkunei Zohar
The Tikkunei Zohar (Tikkun 21, ois 802) states that Purim is fundamentally connected to Yom Kippur. It is often quoted that the name Yom Kippurim is a reference to the fact that it is a day k-Purim, like Purim. However, the words of the Tikkunei Zohar seems to imply the exact opposite connotation: פורים אתקריאת על שם יום הכפורים – Purim’s name is derived from its similarity to Yom Kippur. That is to say, the name Purim is a derivative of Yom Kippur, not the other way round.
The Ben Ish Chai interprets the words of the Zohar differently. He writes that Yom Kippur is day on which we engage in spiritual pleasures and strive to reach the highest heights of spiritual joy. This is reminiscent of Purim, when the oneg, the enjoyment that engages us, is also of a lofty spiritual form.
The Ben Ish Chai adds that he believes that the כ of the name כפורים does, in fact, serve to liken the day to Purim. Yom Kippur is like Purim.
I once heard in a shmooze from R’ Yerucham Kaplan shlita an explanation in what it means Yom Kippurim is K-Purim, only like Purim, which implies Purim is the main thing, and Yom Kippurim is only secondary.
Whether Yom Kippur is compared to Purim or vice versa, what is abundantly clear is that the two are somehow connected. The question is, what exactly connects these two polar-opposite days?
The Gemara in Pesachim (68b) presents a disagreement among the Tannaim regarding how one is supposed to fulfil the mitzvah of simchas Yom Tov, rejoicing on a festival. R’ Elizer posits that one can spend the day either engaged in the service of Hashem, or in festive meals. Either is acceptable, but it must be the entire focus of the day. Either the entire day is laHashem, for Hashem, or the entire day is lachem, for you.
R’ Yehoshua, on the other hand advises that each should be spent half-half. One part of the day should be spent in service of Hashem, while during the other part we engage in festive, joyous meals.
We rule like R’ Yehoshua and divide our time on Yom Tov, chatzei laHashem, and chatzi lachem.
However, the scope of this rule is limited, as there are two days that we do not follow this paradigm. The first of these days is Yom Kippur, which is spent entirely in service of Hashem, and there is no “lachem” component. The second exception is Purim, and is the direct inverse of Yom Kippur, as it is entirely spent in mishteh v’simchah, and the essence of the day is to enjoy ourselves physically. The day is kulo lachem.
The Vilna Gaon explains that these unique days actually are not exceptions. Purim and Yom Kippur are, in fact, split, just like every other Yom Tov. The difference is that, since Purim and Yom Kippur are in reality two complementary parts of one whole, the chatzi laHashem is Yom Kippur and the chatzi lachem is Purim.
There is no exception to the rule; instead, the rule is simply adhered to differently in this instance. Fasting and davening on Yom Kippur fulfil the aspect of chatzi laHashem, while festive celebrating by eating and drinking on Purim satisfies chatzi lachem. The pattern is observed through the combination of these two special days.
He said: On Purim people give mishloach manos, and people remember from one year to the next who gave them, what they gave them etc. however, when it comes to Yom Kippur, we all have thoughts of teshuvah, kabbolas etc. however, by the time Yom Kippur comes around again we have long forgotten about this. So, although on Purim we remember from one year to the next what happened, on Yom Kippurim we don’t, therefore, Yom Kippurim, is only likened to Purim, as in regard to this aspect of remembering from one year to the next Purim is greater.
