Q&A: What Is the Reason and Idea Behind the Purim Commandments, Especially Reading the Megillah Every Year
What Is the Reason and Idea Behind the Purim Commandments, Especially Reading the Megillah Every Year
Question
I wanted to ask: what is the idea underlying the enactment for all generations, instituted for us by the Sages, to read the Megillah every year? There is surely some rationale to it—that they wanted us to internalize something from the story of the Megillah that applies across the generations, including to us, you and me, in 2023. My question is: what is that idea or outlook they wanted us to absorb, and what then are the practical implications for how we should implement it?
Answer
The idea is very deep, and outsiders will not understand: to read the Megillah every year in order to remember the miracle of salvation and give thanks for it.
And as I heard from Rabbi Meidan, who said that he knows 22 answers for why Ruth is read on Shavuot, but only one answer for why Esther is read on Purim. So I wrote that one answer, and may the good Lord atone for me and for you for such a Purim-style question.