How to Unlock the Power of Purim Through Prayer, Joy, and Faith

Purim is not just another day in the simple sense. We wait the entire year for this wondrous day, a day greater than any other in the year. Our Sages said (Jerusalem Talmud, Megillah 1:5) that in the future, all the books of the Prophets will be annulled except for the Megillah of Esther, as it is written: “And these days of Purim shall never pass from among the Jews, nor shall their memory perish from their descendants” (Esther 9).

It is known in the name of the Arizal that on every festival and sacred occasion, the same spiritual illumination that shone at the time of the original miracle shines again each year on that very date. On Passover, the light of the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt shines; on Chanukah, the light of the miracles of the Hasmoneans shines; and on Purim, the very same light of miracles that shone in the days of Mordechai and Esther shines again — when through prayer and repentance, they merited to annul the terrible decree of the wicked Haman, and “the situation was reversed,” with the wicked falling instead of the Jews.

The Fall of Amalek and the Revelation of Faith

The holy Torah states (Shemot 17): “For a hand is on the throne of God; the Lord will wage war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

Our Sages ask: Why does the verse say “throne” (כס) and not “throne” (כסא), and why is God’s Name written incompletely as י-ה rather than the full Name? They explain that God swore that His Throne will not be complete and His Name will not be complete until the memory of Amalek is completely erased.

The days of Purim mark the great downfall of Haman the Amalekite, his sons, and many who followed them. On this day, the spiritual force of Amalek, which conceals the light of God and the light of faith more than anything else, suffers a crushing defeat. Therefore, Purim is especially suited for erasing the power of Amalek, and on this day faith and divine light shine more fully than at any other time of the year. A person is uniquely capable of attaining complete faith on Purim.

All the spiritual lights that shone in Esther’s time shine again every Purim: the light of faith; love of Torah, as the Jews “fulfilled and accepted” the Torah out of love; the light of repentance, through which they achieved complete teshuvah; faith in the Sages, as they trusted Mordechai and followed his guidance; love of Israel, as Esther sacrificed herself for the Jewish people; and much more.

“Whoever Stretches Out a Hand Is Given”

On Purim, there is a promise that every prayer is accepted. There is a well-known rule on Purim: “Whoever stretches out a hand is given.” As we behave below, so Heaven behaves toward us above. Just as we give charity on Purim to anyone who asks, without investigating whether the person is worthy or not, so too in Heaven they do not scrutinize the one who prays — whether he is worthy or unworthy, righteous or wicked. Whoever stretches out a hand in prayer is granted what he asks.

From this we understand the greatness of Purim. Where else do we find a day that is entirely one long moment of divine favor, in which all prayers are accepted? We must therefore not waste this exalted and awesome day on frivolity and drunkenness. Especially since the mitzvah of the Purim feast applies on Purim day itself and not the night before, men and women should wake up at midnight, and engage in lengthy personal prayer until morning, asking for every possible request. It is a tremendous loss to miss this opportunity, for which we wait all year.

Indeed, there are three days of divine favor connected to Purim: the Fast of Esther, and the two days of Purim (for unwalled and walled cities). Although the main observance of Purim is on the 14th for unwalled cities and on the 15th for walled cities, everyone can use the second day for prayer as well. On both days, the principle of “whoever stretches out a hand is given” applies. Anyone who has tasted the power of these prayers and seen the salvations they bring will never give them up in any year.

Preparation and Conduct

Preparation for Purim begins long before Purim itself. Through prayer, we ask to merit the light of Purim, to increase our prayers, to stretch out our hands and ask for all our needs, and above all, to merit complete repentance. We pray to fulfill the mitzvot beautifully, to awaken from spiritual sleep through the reading of the Megillah, to give abundant charity and gifts to the poor, and to increase love through sending portions one to another.

At the Purim feast, we pray to drink much wine that brings joy and not dullness, to merit “if one merits, he becomes a head” and to be saved from “if one does not merit, he becomes impoverished.” We pray to rejoice and dance greatly, to awaken to repentance from the depths of the heart with tears, and to merit higher awe of God.

The days of Purim are a preparation for Passover. One who merits to rejoice and dance greatly on Purim can be purified from impurity and thereby be saved from even a trace of chametz on Passover. Through this, he can avoid sin all year and become completely righteous, all through the power of Purim, the power of the righteous Mordechai and Esther.

The Fast of Esther

The main purpose of the Fast of Esther, and of every fast, is repentance. Regarding the people of Nineveh, it does not say that God saw their sackcloth and fasting, but rather: “God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil ways” (Yonah 3). In Kabbalah it says: “Rend your hearts, not your garments” (Yoel 2). From this we understand that the essence of a fast is the repentance one performs, not the fasting itself.

One should therefore use the fast day for personal repentance, seclusion with God, reciting Tehillim and prayers. The more complete the repentance, the more brightly the light of Purim will shine.

Reading the Megillah

This is an extremely exalted time. Making loud noises and frightening others is not the eradication of Amalek — on the contrary, one who disturbs and frightens others becomes like Amalek himself, God forbid. Anyone who misses even one word of the Megillah has not fulfilled the obligation.

The Megillah is not merely a pleasant story, but it has the power of ancient tales that awaken a person from spiritual sleep. In Uman, when the Megillah was read, rivers of tears would flow from the great awakening people experienced. One who merits it will actually see Mordechai and Esther within the Megillah.

At the time of the story, there was tremendous concealment. Everything appeared natural, yet God’s hand was present at every step with immense mercy. Esther herself believed she was going to die and felt that the Divine Presence had left her, as expressed in the Psalm “Ayelet HaShachar.” Only afterward was God’s wondrous providence revealed, and the Jews merited victory — through prayer, repentance, and the power of the true righteous.

Gifts to the Poor and Sending Portions

We are required to give sufficient money for a meal to two different poor people, and send at least two food portions to a friend, preferably through a messenger. The main intention should be to increase love, unity, and brotherhood among Israel. Through unity, we merit the acceptance of the Torah, as it says: “Israel encamped there as one person with one heart.”

The Purim Feast and the Secret of Wine

After prayer at sunrise, reading the Megillah, and fulfilling the mitzvot of the day, one prays Minchah early and then begins the Purim feast. The feast should include meat and wine, but anyone for whom this is harmful is not obligated. Anyone who knows that wine will cause him to sin or harm others must refrain or drink only a small amount.

Drinking wine on Purim can rectify spiritual flaws, yet in practice many people damage themselves through drunkenness. This is not what our Sages intended.

Purim can be celebrated with great joy, holiness, and purity — without drunkenness or vulgarity, revealing the true light of Purim.