Directives
Of The Rebbe MH"M For The Month Of Adar
The
Month Of Adar
From
the beginning of the month of Adar, every man and woman should
immediately strive to increase in all matters of joy by making good
resolutions and carrying them out to try in all ways to add and increase
in joy. (Truma 5752)
"When
Adar enters, we increase in joy," including the first day of Rosh
Chodesh Adar, and also Shabbos Mevarchim Adar, because that is when the
"knisa" (the entering) of the month of Adar already
begins, and through it the entire month is blessed. (VaYakhel 5749)
Being
joyful includes making both yourself and others happy [especially in a
quorum of ten Jewish adults] (for as we know, perfect joy is experienced
especially along with someone else). It is important to campaign about
this around the world. (VaYakhel 5749)
To
Add in Joy from Day to Day
[The
above] should be in a manner of increasing in light and joy each day of
the (two) month(s) of Adar, to add each day in matters of joy [as we
know, when it comes to joy there has to be something new each day –
"panim chadashos"]. (Truma 5752)
According
to the rule pertaining to all matters of goodness and holiness that the
sooner the better, and also the more the better. Naturally this is even
more pronounced when it comes to matters of joy, which of themselves are
experienced in a way of poretz geder (breaking through
boundaries, i.e., going out of one’s natural limitations). (ibid.)
All
the above-mentioned is achieved primarily through increasing in Torah
study, the revealed part of Torah and especially the inner dimension of
the Torah (Chassidus). And study is great for it leads to action,
fulfilling mitzvos in a beautified way. (ibid.)
Even
through Physical Things
Furthermore,
and this is most important, by increasing joy in Torah and mitzvos
there will also be an increase in joy in the simple sense, in physical
matters and through them, and in accordance with the laws encoded in the
Shulchan Aruch. (ibid.)
The
husband should do more to make his wife happy, and parents [especially
the father] should do more to make the children happy in those things
that make them happy (according to their nature), as it says in the Shulchan
Aruch. (ibid.)
To
Learn Halachos and Chassidus
It
is important to learn the laws of Purim and what Chassidus teaches about
Purim [especially two weeks before Purim] in a manner of understanding
and grasping, to the point of applying it to oneself, for this will
affect the learning such that it will lead to action. (P’kudei
5749)
Every
Jew Should Have What He Needs for Purim
To
try [and campaign about it in advance] and see to it that every Jew
anywhere in the world, should have everything he needs for Purim to
fulfill the mitzvos of Purim – reading the Megilla,
sending portions of food to a friend, giving gifts to the poor, a Purim
feast, and joy on Purim, etc. (ibid.)
To
Give More Tz’daka Throughout the Month
The
above-mentioned refers to tz’daka in general, for throughout
the month of Adar one should give more tz’daka. (ibid.)
Directives
For Purim
All
matters pertaining to Purim should be done in a way of "b’rov
am" (i.e., in large crowds). In addition to all mitzvos
of Purim being fulfilled by all Jews...one should campaign and publicize
both in the Diaspora and in Eretz Yisroel about everything connected
with Purim being done "b’rov am hadras melech" (in
great multitudes is the glory of the King), not only with regard to the
reading of the Megilla, which is required by halacha, but also
with regard to the other aspects of Purim, mishloach manos (sending
portions of food to a friend) and matanos la’evyonim (gifts
to the poor), feasting and rejoicing. Even though we do not find that
people were particular to do these b’rov am, rather everyone
did them on their own, since we want and need to finish Galus
(being scattered among the nations) through increasing unity among Jews,
it is worthwhile and proper to try as much as possible to ensure that
even these matters should be "b’rov am." In fact,
this should be done to the point that when we become aware that in some
forsaken corner of the world there is an individual Jew, one should try
to bring to him (if there is no way of bringing him to a larger group of
Jews) nine Jews so that he too can fulfill the mitzvos of Purim
with a tzibbur [quorum].
More
particularly, concerning "feasting and joy," although each
person celebrates the Purim feast in his home, with his family, etc.,
there was a custom among some holy congregations that they would go from
house to house in order to participate and add to the meal and joy of
Purim with other Jews, in addition to increasing the joy of Purim "b’rov
am" after the meal, in his home, and with his family.
As
far as "gifts to the poor," obviously, giving "b’rov
am" must be done with the utmost care to protect the dignity of
the poor, by giving "b’rov am" to the gabbai tz’daka
or to a tz’daka fund, in addition to giving to one’s own
personal tz’daka fund at home. (VaYikra 5749)
Three
Purim Farbrengens
One
should make (at least) three Purim farbrengens so that the Purim
joy will have a chazaka to draw this joy out over the entire year
– the joy of Torah and the joy of mitzvos…For everyone knows
the greatness of farbrenging with ahavas Yisroel and
unity, "how good and how pleasant when brothers sit together,"
as stated "in the message that descended from the high
heavens" that a farbrengen can accomplish more than the
angel Michoel can accomplish. This is in addition to its value in being
a platform for making good resolutions (and beginning to fulfill them
during the farbrengen itself) pertaining to all matters of Torah
and mitzvos. (Tetzaveh Erev Purim 5750)
Kupas
Rabbeinu
It
is customary at the Purim farbrengen to make an appeal for Kupas
Rabbeinu, as has been done since the time of the Rebbe Rashab, and in
the years following, up to our generation, this year. (Purim 5740)
The
Mitzvos of Purim Observed by Children
Everyone
should do the mitzvos of the day (by first learning about the halachos
of Purim), also including as was mentioned a number of times, educating
children in the mitzvos of mishloach manos and matanos
la’evyonim. Furthermore, even little children who have not
attained the age of chinuch, can give tz’daka themselves
by putting a coin in the pushka. (Taanis Esther 5747)
Every
boy and girl upon attaining the age of mitzva observance, and
even little children who reached the age of chinuch (and with
regard to those to whom there is doubt as to whether they have reached
the age of chinuch – it is better to err on the side of
stringency) should fulfill the mitzvos of mishloach manos and
matanos la’evyonim. (Likkutei Sichos vol. 11 p. 322)
To
sum up, the mitzvos of Purim, including the necessary
preparations for these mitzvos, are to be fulfilled by children
as well, even little children – all children, both boys and girls. (Likkutei
Sichos vol. 21 p. 489)
Children
in Purim Plays
On
Purim there is a special emphasis, according to Jewish custom, to
include children in everything having to do with the holiday ("and
its remembrance will not depart from their children"). Of course,
the Jewish custom is that children "bang out Haman" [with gragors,
etc.] during the Megilla reading.
In
some places, it is customary for children to perform in Purim plays in
which the story of Purim is acted out. Just as they need actors to
perform as Mordechai and Esther, Charvona, etc., they also need someone
to take on the role of Haman. If you were to ask a boy or girl: How is
it possible that you are playing such a role in the play? To say the
words of Haman, when he is referred to as Haman the Wicked? The child,
of course, answers that he knows that these words don’t apply to a
Jew, ch’v. Since he is promised some payment for this, he is
ready to deviate from his very being – albeit for only a short time
– and to say Haman’s words! ...And the child goes on to say: Why are
you coming to him with complaints and questions when his teacher knows
that he took on this role, and did not protest; so there can’t be
anything wrong with it!
…From
this we see how careful we must be in educating the young. Even if
someone were to convince them that for money (especially if he gives
some to tz’daka) and glory it was worthwhile to act (even for a
short while) in a way unbefitting a Jew, they should know not to be
taken in by such an offer. And more importantly, that no impression
should remain from even talking about such things, etc. When one puts in
the effort to educate them in this way while they are still young, we
are assured that "when he grows old, he will not depart from
it!" (Taanis Esther 5743; Likkutei Sichos vol. 31 p, 279-280)
Mivtza
Purim
One
must include all Jews around the world. One should get an early start
and make all the necessary preparations for Mivtza Purim
throughout the world, "all the Jews in all the provinces of the
king Achashverosh, near and far," "large and small,"
"young and old, children and women."
Not
even a single Jew in some forsaken part of the world should be excluded
from Mivtza Purim (which includes continuing to work with them
throughout the year by perfecting one’s Divine service through
fulfilling Torah and mitzvos). (Truma 5751)
Reaching
Those in Special Situations
Try
to reach every Jew whether in the army, senior citizen centers,
orphanages, hospitals, and prisons, so that everyone can fulfill the mitzvos
of Purim. (Likkutei Sichos vol. 21 p. 490)
In
Speech and Action
Try
and see to it that everyone observes all the mitzvos of Purim.
This effort should incorporate both the powers of speech – speaking
words from the heart – and action – to participate wherever help is
needed, such as getting somebody to read the Megilla, preparing manos
so the mitzva of mishloach manos can be done, having coins
ready so that the mitzva of gifts to the poor can be done, and to
include a pamphlet containing the necessary laws of Purim, and at least
a brief review of the Purim story and the great miracle. (Likkutei
Sichos vol. 16 p. 619)
Preparations
for Pesach Begin on Purim
Purim
is thirty days before Pesach, and therefore, it is the time to begin
preparing for Pesach, as it says in Shulchan Aruch, "when
the Beis HaMikdash stood, the early Sages enacted that they begin
publicly teaching the laws of the holiday thirty days before the
holiday, i.e., from Purim and on, the laws of Pesach should be studied.
And this enactment was never nullified, even after the Mikdash
was destroyed. In these generations when the chocham does not
lecture to his students about these halachos, it is a mitzva
incumbent upon everyone to learn the laws of the holiday before the
holiday, until he is expert in them and knows what to do."
"Great is learning because it leads to action." Start the
action by giving money towards "maos chittim," to help
the needy prepare for Pesach. (Taanis Esther and Purim 5748)
Action
begins right after Purim in preparing for Pesach. Indeed, thirty days
before the holiday we begin preparing for Pesach, especially regarding
campaigning about giving maos chittim, which includes all holiday
needs for all the days of Pesach – seven days, and eight days in the
Diaspora. Since the holiday needs are great, the campaign should begin
early; that is, right after Purim you should start on maos chittim.
(Motzaei Shushan Purim 5749)
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