Purim: Navigating Darkness

By Aryeh Bienstock

The Medresh in Mishlei states based on a Pasuk in Megillat Ester that Purim will be the only holiday to exist in the times of Mashiach.

"...שכל המועדים עתידים בטלים, וימי הפורים אינם בטלים לעולם, שנאמר (אסתר ט כח): "וימי הפורים האלה לא יעברו מתוך היהודים"...." (מדרש משלי פרשה ב)

This striking medresh raises an obvious question: What is so special about Purim that will cause it to exist while Pesach and the other holidays will cease to exist during the times of Mashiach? I heard a fascinating insight from Rav Avi Zakutinksy to this question. Rav Hutner, in his Sefer Pachad Yitzchak on Purim (Mamar 34), uses a Mashal to answer this question. Rav Hutner describes two people who are each tasked with finding their friend in a dark room. One person has the ability to light a candle and is able to see clearly who else is in the room with him, while the second person has to use his senses to figure out who is there. He has to train himself to discern and listen to the other people in the room. He teaches himself throughout the dark night how to identify others through the sounds they make. The next morning, when the sun comes out, the person who was able to identify others with a candle was able to recognize the other people better than the first, but the one who did not have a light, and had to use his senses to detect and discern others, has a new skill. That person may not have been able to recognize the other people in the room as clearly and easily, but he has gained something much more valuable. He has gained a lifelong skill of being able to recognize others in the dark.

This story provides insight on our relationship with Hashem during the holidays of Purim and Pesach. As Rav Hutner explains, each of these holidays are days of which we encounter Hashem, “finding our friend” with different means. In both times Hashem greeted us with the phrase “Anochi”. By Pesach the torah describes, "אנכי יהוה אלהיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים מבית עבד͏ים". We saw Hashem clearly take us out of Egypt with the numerous miracles. In contrast, Purim is known as a time of “hester panim”, a time in which Hashem’s presence was not obvious. We were greeted with “ואנכי הסתר אסתיר”, Hashem concealing himself, and therefore we sensed Hashem’s presence through more discreet means.

During the time of Mashiach, when Hashem’s light is revealed, the miracle of Pesach will be gone but that ability to discern Hashem in the darkness cannot be taken away. Purim is all about discerning your friend, Hashem, through the darkness when He is concealing His face. This has been the matziv we have been in for the past few months. We have been in darkness and our mission is to take the story of Purim and the skillset which Purim represents to find Hashem in this darkness and recognize His presence.

Furthermore, an opinion in the Medresh in Mishlei notes that Rebbi Elazar says that in addition to Purim, Yom Kippur will also not be Mevatel in the future.

"אמר רבי אלעזר: אף יום הכיפורים אינו בטל לעולם, שנאמר (ויקרא טז לד): "והיתה זאת לכם לחוקת עולם לכפר על בני ישראל מכל חטאתם אחת בשנה..."  (מדרש משלי פרשה ב)

What is the connection between Yom Kippur and Purim and what is the significance of these two holidays that will warrant their continued celebration during the time of Moshiach. Rabbi Nebenzahl, in his Sefer on Purim (page 157-159), explains that Yom Kippur and Purim are both times of teshuva; they are about returning to the light of Hashem. Therefore, in the times of Mashiach, this light of Hashem and the clarity of His presence will be so great that the additional light of the other holidays will not be necessary. Similarly, the light of teshuva will continue to exist because it is a special light which we will still be able to recognize when Mashiach comes. With these ideas in mind, I believe that we can take connection between the two holidays a step further using the yesod of Rav Hutner. Teshuva is done when someone has done something wrong, when they are repenting from a sin they have done. This is a place of darkness, it may be temporary darkness, but it is still darkness and this teshuva is us seeking out Hashem in that darkness. This is why both of these Yom Tovs will not cease to exist in the times of Mashiach, because that skill cannot be taken away. That ability to see and seek out Hashem in the darkness is a skill that as a people we will always have. May we all be Zoche to see Hashem in this time of darkness and be able to recognize Him and become closer to Him despite not being able to always see Him clearly.