Unmasking the Soul: The Rebbe’s Purim Lesson | Amizur Nachshoni
The Rebbe was once asked what can we learn from the custom of wearing costumes on Purim?
The Rebbe answered:
On Purim you see many people dressed in different types of costumes, one is a clown, one is an animal, and one you don’t even know what he’s wearing. Do you get angry or upset with them? No because you know it’s just a costume.
In life we meet many people. One is impatient, one is angry, one is apathetic…
This is not who they really are. This is just a “costume”. Deep in their heart they are all “warm Jews, full of purity and beauty”
We just need to interact with them with kindness and tenderness and take off their “costume”and reveal the pure Neshama (soul) inside each one.
This is true Ahavat Yisroel (love of a fellow Jew).
As the joyous festival of Purim approaches, many look forward to the lively celebrations, the reading of the Megillah, and the beloved tradition of masquerading in costumes. However, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, offered a profound insight into the deeper significance of this custom.
When asked about the meaning behind wearing costumes on Purim, the Rebbe provided a poignant analogy. He observed that on this day, one might encounter individuals dressed as clowns, animals, or even unrecognizable outfits. Yet, despite their outward appearance, we do not react with anger or frustration, for we understand that these are merely costumes, not reflections of their true selves.
The Rebbe then drew a parallel to the people we encounter in our daily lives. Just as on Purim, we may come across individuals who seem impatient, angry, or apathetic. However, the Rebbe reminded us that these external behaviors are akin to costumes — they do not represent the individual’s true essence.
Beneath the surface, the Rebbe taught, lies the pure and beautiful soul, a “warm Jew” filled with goodness and purity. Our task, then, is to interact with kindness and tenderness, gently removing the “costume” and revealing the inherent light within each person.
This teaching encapsulates the essence of Ahavat Yisrael, the love for one’s fellow Jew. It reminds us to look beyond the superficial masks that individuals may wear and to connect with the divine spark that resides within every human being.
On Purim, as we celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, the Rebbe’s message encourages us to embrace this spirit of unity and compassion. By recognizing the inherent beauty in one another, we can foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding, transcending external appearances and celebrating the shared humanity that binds us all together.
In a world that often judges by outward appearances, the Rebbe’s Purim lesson beckons us to look inward, to peel away the layers of artifice and reveal the radiant souls that lie beneath. It is a call to love, to empathy, and to the recognition that every human being is a precious vessel containing a spark of the divine.
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