Purim: Removing the Mask, by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein

Of all the masks we may encounter over the course of Purim, the most intriguing is the one worn by Purim itself…

On the one hand, Purim commemorates and celebrates the miracle that Hashem performed for the Jewish People at the time. In this retrospective sense, it "faces backwards."

On the other hand, however, it also "faces forwards" in the sense that it provides a vision toward the future. It contains many messages that reveal extremely profound concepts and fundamental truths…the festival of Purim is a time when these ideas can be encountered, accessed, and absorbed anew.

Ultimately, these two different "directions" do not conflict with each other, for the day of Purim is not just a historical event; it is an ongoing presence in the Jewish calendar and in its national experience.

Behind the feasting and merriment which accompany the day of Purim lie some of the most profound and meaningful ideas of Judaism. Drawing on a fascinating array of sources, renowned teacher and author Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein (author of the bestselling Teshuva, Aggadah, and Darkness to Destiny Haggadah) guides the reader on an eye-opening journey towards a deeper appreciation of the Jewish people's most colorful festival.