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Purim - Inspiring Our Family Life
by Hauer, Rabbi Moshe
Two of the central
mitzvos
of Purim are
matanos le'evyonim
(gifts to the poor) and
mishloach manos
(gifts to friends). The Rambam writes that the most important
mitzva
on Purim is not the
seudah
(feast) or
mishloach manos
, but
matanos le'evyonim
. We might think this is because giving to the poor is the most virtuous of the
mitzvos
, but this is not his reasoning. The Rambam explains that the thing that gives a person the most joy is giving to others. When we bring joy to someone else, we are using the piece inside of us which is
domeh l'shechina
(similar to G-d) to imitate His ways. Hashem is the Ultimate Giver, and we aim to be like Him. This is a concept which we can apply to our family lives as well, using this attribute of giving to bring the
Shechina
into our relationships. We hope to use the day of Purim to be givers, and to uplift ourselves with the rich taste of the joy of bringing happiness to others.
