This year we celebrate Purim while Israel is at war. The question is obvious: how can we be joyful at a time like this?
Our sages teach, “Simcha Poretz Geder,” joy breaks through barriers. Simcha is not denial. It is not ignoring reality. It is part of how a Jew responds to reality.
Every holiday has its mitzvot, and every holiday also has its focus. Yom Kippur is about repentance. Rosh Hashanah is about introspection. Sukkot is about unity. Hanukkah is about light. Pesach is about freedom. Each time of the year carries its own spiritual energy, and when we live the focus of that day, we activate the blessing and power built into it.
Purim’s focus is joy.
If G-d tells us that today we must rejoice, then that joy is not a contradiction to what is happening, it is the very tool we are meant to use. There is no greater weapon than simcha. Joy breaks walls, walls of fear, walls of worry, even harsh decrees.
Because joy is not only the result of salvation, it helps bring salvation.
This Purim, our simcha, is an act of faith.
And it is an act of solidarity that it much more meaningful and powerful than limiting our Purim as if we were in the direct line of danger G-d forbid.
On the exact contrary.
Rejoicing on this Purim is a dispatch of power, energy and G-dly blessing to our brother and sisters, mother and fathers, sons and daughters, fellow Jews who are limited in their ability to celebrate Purim as usual because of the dangers involved.
When someone in the family is ill, the best thing the caregivers around them can do is to be healthy, upbeat, positive, optimistic and joyous. The person in danger is not helped by gloom in the eyes and hearts of those who are caring for them.
Fascinatingly and inspiringly, there are so many parallels to the original Purim story.
The epicenter of the diabolical plans of exterminating the Jews was in Persia some 2400 years ago. This is modern day Iran, the main center of this war to remove the murderous government of evil.
India and Ethiopia are mentioned prominently in the Megillah. The prime minister of India just visited Israel. The president of Israel just visited Ethiopia.
The miracles of Purim were veiled behind a natural twist of world events and palace intrigues, to the extent that the name of G-d is not even mentioned in the Megillah.
Similarly, the current miracles unfolding are also hidden behind geopolitics and incredibly modern and effective weaponry.
We Jews, understand that behind every incredibly successful missile interception is the benevolent, miraculous and supernatural Hand of G-d.
The masquerade on Purim is all about highlighting this very point.
On Purim we get dressed up in costumes to remind us that behind those ‘cover-ups’ and costumes, it is the undeniable Hand of G-d that is blessing His people with miracles of historic proportion.
And here is something that I never truly paid that much attention to, till now in the year 2026 as we live through the current historic world events.
The Purim celebration from its very beginning is the only Jewish holiday that is celebrated on different days in different places.
In Jerusalem and other cities that had walls since ancient times, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar (tomorrow night and Wednesday). In all of the rest of the world, it is one day earlier on the 14th day of Adar (tonight and tomorrow)
We find that even in the times of Mordechai and Esther, Purim was celebrated on a different day in Shushan than in the other cities. In all other cities, the battle against the enemies of the Jews took place on the thirteenth of Adar, and the people rested and celebrated on the fourteenth of Adar. In Shushan, however, the battle took place on the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar, and the people rested and celebrated only on the fifteenth.
In other words, Purim from its inception had some Jews being able to fully rest, rejoice and celebrate, while others needed more time and only once their battle was over could they fully rest, rejoice and celebrate.
This is important to remember this year. Because as we get pictures and videos of our kids and grandkids running incessantly tens of times during day and in middle of the night to the bomb shelters, I understand that their Purim parties are not able to be held as usual.
Yet, those of us who are outside the arena of the incoming missiles are fully able to celebrate (while paying attention to security concerns and implementing responsible security).
It feels awkward and not fair to celebrate so jubilantly here, while in Israel the epicenter of our nation, they are under attack, yet this is what the very festival of Purim reminds us from its very inception.
Celebrate when you can. I have no doubt the delayed Purim parties in Israel after this is over will be epic and joyous. (Of course they will perform all the mitzvahs of Purim, reading the megillah, trading food gifts, money to the poor and eating a festive meal (hopefully not needing to be in a shelter), but they wont be able to celebrate (the way it seems now) in the same unbridled and exuberantly public way as usual.
We are all part of AM YISRAEL.
My dear Jewish brother or sister: Don’t sit by the sidelines this Purim.
For our people, especially for our fellow Jews in Israel (and Iran) celebrate Purim by doing the Four mitzvot of Purim with even more attention and devotion.
And yes, practice JOY and SIMCHA and CELEBRATE this Purim on your behalf and on behalf of our people.
AM YISRAEL CHAI – the People of Israel is alive – our life is our connection to G-d and His Torah – this makes us an eternal nation. Connecting more deeply with Hashem and observing more fully his Mitzvot is the greatest way to send gifts of life, health and joy to our dear brothers and sisters in Israel and wherever they may be.
And may our joy truly break all barriers and bring revealed miracles and peace for our brothers and sisters in Israel.
HAPPY PURIM!!!
WE WANT MASHIACH NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Rabbi Yosef and Nechama Kantor