Purim - Light Through Darkness | Rabbi Nachum Binder

Purim is here. A day of a feasting and rejoicing, joy and celebration, Mishloach Manos, gifts to the poor. Purim, the day that evokes such joy in young and old alike. But there's another aspect to Purim. We know from the Arizal that Yom Kippur is called Yom Kippurim (like Purim). Purim is unique in its holiness. Purim is unique in the opportunity that we have to grow and become closer to the Ribono shel Olam and achieve levels that we can't achieve the whole year. What is it about Purim that brings such joy? And what is it about Purim that affords us such a unique opportunity of holiness and closeness to the Ribono shel Olam? The Mirrer Mashgiach, R’ Yeruchom, brings a Chazal, which is mentioned in Rashi in Masechta Sanhedrin, where Chazal tell us about a Yid that was named Nosson Tzutzisa. And this Nosson Tzutzisa had a unique light, an Or, that was emanating from him, that was shining. And he was asked, Why did you merit to such a gift of this light that surrounds you? And he told them that he once faced a tremendous challenge, in a Nisayon in matters of holiness. He overcame the Nisayon, he thought that it was over, and then one day, the Nisayon came to his door and he was still Misgaber. He overcame that Yetzer Hara. And since then, he has this tremendous light, this tremendous Or, emanating from him. And R’ Yeruchom asks, Why is it that specifically a person who had the struggle, who had the temptation, and overcame it, merits this light, where other people, other Tzaddikim, who sat the whole day and never were even faced with Nisyonos but they achieve such great levels, why don't they have this light? Says R’ Yeruchom, Light is something that comes out of the darkness. Nosson Tzutzisa faced darkness. He had his challenge, he had his Yetzer Hara. And overcoming challenges is the only way how one can reach levels of light. מוריי ורבותיי, says R’ Yeruchom, Do you know what's so unique about Purim? Purim, Klal Yisroel were in the lowest point they ever reached. Purim, Klal Yisroel was faced with tremendous darkness. They partook of the feast of that wicked one. They bowed down to an idol. Klal Yisroel was deserving of “to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate”. And they overcame, they were Misgaber. They picked themselves up. And through that, Klal Yisroel achieved levels that's not possible to achieve on any other day of the year. Yom Kippur is a day of straight holiness that is limited. But Purim is a day when our darkness and our challenges bring us to higher levels, that is unlimited. Yom Kippur is a day like Purim. So as we rejoice on this heiliger day of Purim, as we celebrate, we sing and we dance, we eat and we drink, let's take a moment and thank the Ribono shel Olam, not only for our Vayimaen moments, our overcoming our challenges, but for the challenges that give us the opportunity to overcome. Let us thank the Ribono shel Olam for giving us that darkness that brings us to this tremendous light. A freilichen Purim.