In the piyyut, we say שושנת יעקב צהלה ושמחה בראותם יחד תכלת מרדכי, there was great rejoicing when the Yidden saw the techeiles of Mordechai. The Shem MiShmuel asks in the name of his father, the Avnei Nezer: What was the great cause for joy when they saw the techeiles of Mordechai HaTzaddik? And what does this have to do with the miracle of Purim?
Says the Avnei Nezer: There’s a great difference between the two expressions of joy, שמחה וששון. Simchah comes to a person incrementally, in steps. A person prepares for it. He knows that it’s about to come, and he creates vessels to accept the joy. Later, when the cause for joy arrives, he internalizes it into his heart, and he’s properly able to accept it, because he has prepared the vessels for it.
However, ששון is an expression of joy that comes suddenly and unexpectedly—as the pasuk tells us, שש אנכי על אמרתך כמוצא שלל רב, I rejoice over Your word like one who finds great treasure (Tehillim 119:162). Finding a great treasure is an unexpected joy. On one hand, the finder feels incredible sensations of joy—because he went from 1-100 on the scale of joy in one instant. But on the other hand, this person doesn’t have the vessels to accept and retain the joy. He hasn’t opened his heart to be able to store the joyful emotions.
Unexpected Joy
But there’s a third expression of joy, and that is צהלה. This is expression of joy which is even more sudden... like a euphoria. The person becomes very emotional from to this feeling, but he, too, doesn’t have the place to store these feelings.
During the neis Purim, the Yidden went instantly from worry and angst to great joy and euphoria—from והעיר שושן נבוכה to והעיר שושן צהלה ושמחה! They experienced the extraordinary feeling of צהלה, and there was thus cause for worry that the joy wouldn’t last, that the joy wouldn’t remain with them.
Lasting Joy
But when the Yidden saw Mordechai’s techeiles, they became joyful. Why? The Gemara (Menachos 42b) explains that techeiles is a pigment that cannot be washed away. It remains eternally in the garment.
Thus, the Yidden took the vision of תכלת מרדכי as a sign that this joy would last forever. Hashem was showing them that He had given them a miracle that would remain with them for eternity. “Don’t think that it’s easy come-easy go. I have indeed given you a miracle in a sudden and unexpected manner, but this joy is a lasting one.”
Wise people who receive a gift will immediately examine it to see its longevity. This is how one can ascertain the quality of the gift. Thus, when the Yidden saw the תכלת מרדכי, they understood that this צהלה will remain with them.
Retaining Purim Joy All Year
Our avodah over these exalted days of Purim is to fashion vessels that will be able to hold the special joy and inspiration of Purim we experience over these days. During this time, the Ribbono shel Olam awakens a special place in our hearts with the unique gift of elevated joy. But how do we ensure that this joy will remain with us eternally? It’s wonderful to feel these holy emotions, but how do we fashion a vessel to hold onto them, like the techeiles of Mordechai?
Often, a Yid will experience a particularly joyful and elevated Purim, but on the following morning, he finds that nothing has changed! All his problems have remained in place—along with the attitudes with which he processes those problems. What is a mehalech through which we can indeed hold onto this transformative joy?
One of the eitzos is to meditate and reflect and connect with the joy of Purim in a deep way—to attempt to understand and appreciate the real reason for our joy on Purim. When a Yid understands why he was joyful on Purim, then even after the feeling and emotion of joy depart from him, he remains with the understanding of his joy.
Meditation Lasts Beyond Emotion
It works the same way with all joy. Let us take as an example a Yid who merited to marry off his youngest child and he experienced extraordinary feelings of joy during the wedding. If his joy and gratitude are derived from a deep place—if he reflects upon the incredible kindness that the Ribbono shel Olam has done for him—then these meditations and reflections will remain with him long after he has returned to his routine life, even when he’s no longer experiencing the feelings of happiness and joy he felt then. He will remain with the impression of Hashem’s kindness to him, and he can always connect to the knowledge of what Hashem has done for him. He can always close his eyes and connect with that feeling, because the joy has remained with him, even though the joyful feeling has not.
The same applies when a couple marry. If they invest depth into the joy—appreciating the chasdei Hashem at every step—then even if they experiences some difficulties, their joy remains with them. The foundation remains always.
Hashem Is Occupied with Us
When the exalted days of Purim come around once again, a Yid must reflect upon the idea of בנים אתם לה’ אלוקיכם, we are sons to Hashem, our G-d. The joy of Purim stems from the appreciation that Hashem occupies Himself with every Yid, no matter in which state he finds himself, because the Ribbono shel Olam wants to listen to him and address his every need and concern. It doesn’t matter how small-minded we may sometimes be; the Aibishter is always patient and fatherly.
Sometimes, we may see a young child approach an older, distinguished person in shul—a real talmid chacham who has mastered Shas and Poskim—and drives him crazy with his requests.... “Can you please give me a cup? Now can you put in some hot water? No, it’s a bit too hot... can you add some cold water... Oh, and can you give me the sugar?” But this Yid is unfazed. He’s exceedingly patient, and he gives the child everything he requests. When we see such an interaction, we’re amazed at the patience this Yid has for a young child.
This is what we must internalize on Purim! The Ribbono shel Olam is always taking care of us and is constantly addressing our needs. He has endless patience for our small-mindedness—even when we’re unreasonable and petty.... When we appreciate this, it’s a thought and a meditation that accompanies us always.
Later, when we find ourselves struggling to bring in Pesach and occasionally become angry, we will remind ourselves of these deep and beautiful meditations of Purim. We will remember that the Ribbono shel Olam caters to every Yid with his specific needs, even when he is in the lowliest state.
Hashem Understands Us
Now that we appreciate the closeness and the patience that Hashem has for us, we must take it to another level: If the Ribbono shel Olam is always with us, despite our small, petty desires and requests, maybe we can elevate our desires.... We can daven to Hashem: It’s not befitting for our conversation to surround such pettiness... I want something more.... I want our relationship to be about more than this.
The sefarim hakedoshim teach us that the Ribbono shel Olam משפיל גאים עדי ארץ, denigrates greatness to the ground—that is, He lowers His great light to our lowly world—in order that it should be מגביה שפלים עדי מרום, to uplift the lowly up high. The Ribbono shel Olam places Himself, as it were, into our lowly concerns and needs, so that He can uplift us to a higher plane. Because when a Yid recognizes that Hashem is right there with him, it will uplift him greatly.
Understanding Breeds Closeness
We can understand this concept with the following mashal: One person admonishes his friend to change his behavior in a certain area, but this person doesn’t feel that he is being understood... he feels his friend is there only to correct and admonish him. He will never feel open to accepting his friend’s words of direction, and he will never change.
However, if this person is approached by his friend with warmth and understanding... if the friend “enters his world”... and then softly suggests, “Maybe we can together find a better way?” it will result in closeness between them, and the listener will be ready to accept what he has to say. Why? Because he feels that this person is on his side and understands him.
When a Yid appreciates how much the Ribbono shel Olam understands him, this enables him to feel kirvas Elokim, which instills in him a desire to grow out of his immature state.
He Knows Everything
The truth is that all our concealments and challenges were created by the Ribbono shel Olam Himself—and thus He understands our unique challenges very well. He is always here to lift us out of these challenges.
When a person struggles to manage his feelings of jealousy of his brother or brother-in-law who’s phenomenally successful, the Ribbono shel Olam—Who designed these circumstances—says, “I understand you!”
When we appreciate and internalize this truth, we will rejoice with the Ribbono shel Olam. This awareness brings such closeness, knowing “The Ribbono shel Olam understands me... He doesn’t think I’m crazy or petty or weird....” And now that this person has experienced closeness, he can open his heart to think about ways to improve his situation and elevate himself a bit above his pettiness.
Smallness Is No Contradiction to Closeness
As we rejoice on Purim, and we reflect upon the idea that Hashem is with us and cares about our smallest and most petty concerns, this brings a kirvas Elokim that will remain with us long after Purim—and no amount of “smallness” will be able to temper it.
Why is it that on an average summer afternoon, we don’t feel heightened feelings of kirvas Elokim? Because it is then that we generally feel a state of קטנות, smallness, and we feel as though this smallness conceals the light of Hashem. “It’s not the right time... I don’t feel anything right now... but Elul is around the corner... that’s when I’ll pick myself up... now we just need to push through....” But on Purim, we understand that our smallness is no contradiction to being close with Hashem.
You’re Good Because You’re My Child
We see clearly that when a person is joyful—with or without a glass of wine in hand—the external levushim and layers and differences fall away. The greater the joy, the less it matters what age he is or what socioeconomic class he belongs to. When a person is truly happy, he can sing and dance with even a young child... the differences don’t matter. For it is then that all layers fall away.
Purim is a time of joy in the Presence of Hashem. It is then that we internalize how much Hashem rejoices with every Yid: You’re my child, and it doesn’t matter at all what state you’re in. Even when there’s pettiness and smallness in your mind, they don’t conceal the love. The Yerushalmi (Berachos Perek Tes) says regarding the pasuk אשר לו אלוקים קרובים אליו that we’re privileged to be able to speak to Hashem whenever and wherever we desire.
When we experience this feeling, this alone is cause for dancing and joy (and if we don’t feel it, there’s the eitzah of האדם נפעל כפי פעולותיו, man is influenced by his own actions; he should start dancing until he feels it. We must speak it and we must think about it until we feel it, because this is the truth).
Purim All Year
There’s a great difference between a person who meditates on this inner meaning of Purim, and one who remains with the emotions of joy of Purim alone. If it’s solely emotional, the joy will evaporate as soon as the emotion leaves him... like the young children who sadly conclude that we must now wait an entire year for Purim to return.
How different it is when a Yid internalizes the thoughts and the feelings that he gained over Purim... then his joy remains with him forever—because he can always draw on it. He can always think about the truth that Hashem is constantly with him, and he can always connect with the light of Purim; automatically, this will bring him emotions of joy. All the singing and dancing and rejoicing of this exalted day illuminate our hearts with the truth that we must take with us and never forget.
