(* this is the spelling in Polish, in honor of Purim)
When Purim came, Novardokers were more concerned about becoming a Mordechai! וּמָ רְ דֳּ כַי לֹא יִכְרַ ע וְלֹא יִשְ תַ חֲוֶׁה ג ב “Mordechai would not bow to Haman” was their motto. Notice how Mordechai is M'vazeh himself screaming in the streets! (Surely a lot of the Novardok Shita of “Pratim” comes from Mordechai, who was a major source of their Shita).
Novardokers had to work on themselves plenty to get the way they were. R' Galinsky used to come to Lakewood annually, and entertain the Yeshiva when he was there for Purim. He had jokes and songs, and he was always by the microphone. Doing this is a perfect Novardok “Prat”, where you break your Middos (especially your fear of people) and you do a Mitzva at the same time!
Someone asked R’ Orlansky Zatzal (the last living Talmid of the Alter) about Purim in Novardok. He said that there was not enough money to buy wine; only the Rosh Yeshiva had some, and he gave “Shirayim”. For Mishloach Manos, everyone received a raisin & a nut, along with a little note, on which was written all your Maalos & Chesronos...
If two friends wrote the same Chisaron (e.g., Ga'ava), then you were expected to take their observation seriously; and Novardokers were experts in dealing with Middos. If only one person said a Chisaron, then you ignored it. I heard the same thing from a son of one of the Talmidim of R’ Gershon Liebman Zatzal. He told me that his father would send a Mussar note along with their Mishloach Manos.
He joked: “Everyone else was having a happy Purim, while we had a Tisha B'av!” I saw letters written between Novardokers. They had a tremendous love for each other (like brothers, Mamash), and were mainly concerned with each other’s Ruchaniyus. In the Sefer Mevakesh HaShleimus I saw a letter where one Novardoker reprimands his friend for not getting involved in Zikkui HaRabbim. He is very upset with his friend’s Anava P'sula (misplaced humility).
Novardokers get very upset with Shiflus, and demand doing what is necessary, with no fear of a Basar V'dam. People have Kin'ah for all those “better people”; e.g., the wealthy, famous, the popular, the personalities, the Menahalim, Roshei Yeshivos, Admorim, those who are famous and respected, etc. In Novardok, they laughed at all these “people who really made it.” The world is full of Dimyon and Redifas HaKavod.
Halevai we would have such fear and admiration for Hashem as we have for all those “loudmouths” and “noisemakers” who made it into the newspapers. This is exactly Haman’s sickness; when you become great like a Mishneh La’Melech, then you are really a zero. With wealth, fame, and “incredible” success, comes along a new “incredible” Yetzer Hara that can Chas V'shalom bury the person completely!
So many kings and leaders actually lost their Olam HaBah, Rachmana Litzlan. Chazal say “Lay low and be a Pashuta Yid”, and that way you’ll be happier in this world and in the next.
Novardoker’s jump into situations fearlessly. When the Nazi’s said they need a carpenter (or some other trade) Reb Gershon volunteered without any fear, since having a skillful job was a lifeline.
No wonder there is a Mitzva to get drunk on Purim! We can suggest that drunkenness is an image of blind Bitachon. Purim is a Yom Tov of Bitachon, following in the footsteps of Mordechai and Esther, who carried out seemingly reckless missions. Reb Yisroel Salanter said: Where Sechel ends, Bitachon begins.
