“Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordechai sitting in the king’s gate that he stood not up nor moved for him Haman was filled with wrath against Mordechai. Haman… went home and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife. And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and everything as to how the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.” (Esther 5:9–11)
Why does a husband tell his wife about all of their children? Even his friends and neighbors knew this — and of his prosperity and prestige. What was the purpose then of Haman telling them? (Rav Chaim Zaitchik Kol Mevaser on the Five Megillos)
Sometimes I think that I have to get out of Purim to really get into Purim. Away from the cellophane and ribbons from the fisherman’s cap and the princess’s gloves from the grated chocolate to be sprinkled on each dessert cup. Away from the thousand details that I spent days running around breathlessly to organize.
I need to get away from it all and tell myself “That’s it.” It’s possible that a mishloach manos will be sent to the wrong person that the princess will wear weekday shoes and the fisherman will be missing that crucial feather. But so what? It will be Purim for me. It will be a real live Purim that type of Purim you breathe in with great deep breaths.
Create a free account to keep reading.
