Purim -- Holier than Yom Kippur? By Rabbi Stacy Friedman
Posted by: meredith
on Feb 3, 2012 
A rabbi and his daughter were driving in the car when she asked her father, “What is the holiest day in the Jewish year?” He thought for a moment and responded, “Purim! -- or maybe Shabbat.” “Purim?” Surprised by her father’s answer, she asked for an explanation. In the Torah, Yom Kippur is known as Yom Ha-Kippurim. Rabbi Isaac Luria (18th century) explains that the word Purim is found in the biblical name for Yom Kippur- Yom haki-PURIM, which literally means a day like Purim!
Why and how is Yom Kippur a day like Purim? The rabbis teach us that all holidays and each Shabbat are “half spiritual, half physical.” We spend part of each holy day praying and singing (the spiritual part) and the rest of the day eating a special meal, some challah, and celebrating at home with family or friends (the physical part). Of all the holidays in the Jewish calendar, Purim and Yom Kippur are the only two exceptions. Purim is all physical while Yom Kippur is all spiritual. Yom Kippur is spent fasting, while Purim is spent feasting. On Yom Kippur, we turn completely inward and thwart worldly endeavors, while on Purim, the opposite is true- we celebrate with costumes and loud noise (groggers), we eat and bring food (shalach manot) to friends and family, we give money to the poor. And even the central biblical text of Purim, the Book of Esther, never mentions God!
So how then, can Purim be holier than Yom Kippur? Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov writes that, If one attains holiness through affliction (like we do on Yom Kippur) and another attains holiness through indulgence (like we do on Purim), who is the greater of the two? One who attains holiness through indulgence is greater for it requires an infinitely greater degree of striving and effort.” I believe what he is saying is that holiness that derives from praying, meditating, and fasting is easier, cleaner-cut than finding holiness amidst the chaos of everyday life. Finding holiness while sitting on top of a mountain is often much easier than finding it while paying the bills or sitting in traffic. But ultimately, the is the lesson of Jewish life-- living a spiritual life while living life fully, with all its holy messiness. In this way, the challenge of Purim is greater!! That’s why Yom ha-kiPurim is only “a day like Purim.”
My point is not to diminish Yom Kippur’s importance, but rather, to recognize the importance and centrality of Purim! In essence, Purim and Yom Kippur are two sides of the same coin. They balance each other, and when we celebrate both, we too experience more balance and more holiness as well. I know we will have arrived when as many people attend Purim as do Yom Kippur!
I look forward to seeing you all this year on Purim (remember, Purim is not just for children, but is truly an adult holiday as well).
If you would like to participate in our Purim service and shpiel, let me know at 479.3441 or stacy@rodefsholom.org.
Come ready to celebrate, have fun, laugh, and enjoy! Oh and don’t forget your costume!
Rabbi Stacy Friedman
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