Rebbe Nachman’s Advice # 15 – Purim 2 – the relationship of Purim to Pesach

Tonight we celebrate Purim. We celebrate this day with four rituals:

1. Reading Megillat Esther at night and during the day
2. Mishloah Manot – sending gifts of food to friends
3. Matanot L’Evyonim – giving food/money to those less fortunate to be able to celebrate Purim
4. Seudat Purim – A special celebratory meal on the day

These four mitzvot speak to the joy of survival, remembering through reading, celebrating with food, connecting to others and caring for others. Interestingly, there is a fifth mitzvah of Purim, though not directly related to Purim. The Shulchan Aruch states:

שואלים בהלכות פסח קודם לפסח שלשים יום

We learn the halakhot of Pesach for 30 days before Pesach.

429:1

Since Purim is 30 days before Pesach, we would therefore need to start the study of laws of Pesach on Purim. There are various connections between the two holidays, from the idea that the crucial moments of Megillat Esther took place around Passover, to the common theme of the two days of going from persecution to freedom. Perhaps we can argue that by studying about Pesach on Purim, we bring those two days together.

Another way to look at this is the following from Rebbe Nachman:

פּוּרִים הוּא הֲכָנָה לְפֶסַח. עַל־יְדֵי מִצְווֹת שֶׁל פּוּרִים זוֹכִין לִהְיוֹת נִשְׁמָרִין מֵחָמֵץ בְּפֶסַח: (לק”ת סי’ ע”ד)

Purim is a preparation for Pesach. Through the mitzvah of Purim we are protected from chametz on Pesach (Likutey Moharan II, 74)

The mitzvot of Purim that Rebbe Nachman is referring to are the four primary commands of the day. Through the remembering, celebrating with food, connecting to others and caring for others. we are showing that we are not selfish, filled with “leaven” a symbol of arrogance. There is a trope in mystical thought that part of our mission before Passover is to remove our spiritual chametz, our arrogance. Through celebrating with others and making sure others can celebrate, we begin the process of removing the husk of seeing the world just through our eyes. We put ourselves in relationship with others, which requires a certain basic humility. And we show this by beginning our reflections about Pesach on Purim, literally bridging the two days together.

On this Purim, may we experience the joy of the day and may this celebration be the opening steps to a deep and meaningful Passover preparation season.

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