Rav Pinkus brings down a great example that is easy to
relate to. If an individual has $20 and has no clothing to cover his upper
self, should he spend the money on a shirt or a tie? Obviously everyone should
answer “a shirt.” Why? Because the shirt is a necessity and the tie is only a
luxury that only adds to the need.
The same goes for the two central mitzvot of Purim: Matanot LaEvyonim (charity
to the poor) and Mishloah Manot (Purim Goodie Baskets). The more important one
is Matanot LaEvyonim and then if one has extra spending money they buy purim
baskets for another individual.
The Halacha (law) states that we learn from the Pasuk in
Ester (9:22) that we give matanot to two different evyonim (poor people)
because the word evyonim speaks about
the poor in plural, however; for mishloah
manot we are only instructed to give a single mishloah (as the word mishloah
is singular), or package. On a deeper level, Rav Pinkus explains that the Pasuk
in Shir HaShirim 2:7 “Im Ta’iru ve’im
teoreru at Ha’Ahava Ad Shetehpatz” holds a secret message that whenever
there is a greatness of happiness, it should be held in a vessel, in a hephetz (from the word shetehpatz).
This teaches us that in the great discovery and learning of
Purim that holds the concept of Hashem’s love for us, His nation, we should
hold this happiness in the happy mitzvot of the Purim meal, reading the
Megillah, giving out charity and sending each other purim baskets. Therefore,
these Mitzvot really signify the love we return to Hashem after realizing His
love for us. From this connection, the awakening to give begins and if we could
have we would have given to Hashem, but instead we give to His children (other
Jews)!
Purim Sameah!
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