If you would ask Shlomie, Heshy, or Yossi which day is their favorite day, I don’t think you would be surprised to hear that it is Purim. If you would try to guess what activity they enjoy most on Purim, I doubt that you would ever figure it out on your own. Sure, they enjoy the mitzvos of Purim. Listening to the Megilla and drowning out Haman’s name with all types of unusual noisemakers is fun, giving and receiving mishloach manos is exciting, matanos L’ evyonim is fulfilling, and the festive meal is filling in a different way.
All that is great, but the three brothers have another Purim activity which they love most. For the past few years, they would go with their older cousin, Eli, on Purim afternoon to the Jewish retirement home. After reading the Megilla, exchanging Mishloach Manos, distributing and collecting coins for Matanos L’ evyonim, the boys would put on a short Purim play. Eli is the mastermind behind the whole program, and his cousins look up to him. This year is no different.
“Okay, everyone, don’t leave anything behind in the car. I’ve got the Megilla, Heshy, you take the box of Mishloach Manos packages, Shlomie, take the bag of graggers, and Yossi, you can carry the two pushkas. Hey! Don’t shake them or all of the coins will fall out!”
“Eli, are you sure that kids in Shushan wore such baggy pants? I think I look more like a Purim clown than a Shushan cheider boy!” said Heshy.
“You look fine. Let’s get started.”
After the Megilla reading and the other Purim Mitzvos are fulfilled, the boys are ready to present their skit.
Eli, dressed as Mordechai, begins: “What is happening here in Shushan? Haman has just convinced Achashverosh to let him send out a decree to destroy the Jews r”l. Nothing happens down here without being decreed above. So if I analyze the situation down here and apply it up there, maybe I’ll know what’s doing up there and apply it down here, so that up there and down here the decree will be annulled.
“Haman is upset because I didn’t bow to him, and he sees me as representing all of the Jewish people, who have faith in Hashem alone.
“Aha! This must be a test of faith from Above. Since the nation’s faith in Hashem has not been so obvious lately, we are being tested to see if we can bring that faith out into the open. I know now what the people need to do, but I’d like to have some kind of sign that I will be able to get the Jews to do that. Oh, here come some cheider boys. Let me ask them what they’ve learned.”
Shlomie, Heshy, and Yossi come up to Mordechai (Eli).
“Shalom U’v’racha, children. Where are you coming from?”
“Shalom, Rabbi, we are coming from Cheider, and we are on our way home,” answers Shlomie.
“Wonderful,” answers ‘Mordechai.’ He turns to the youngest boy. “What is the last verse that you have learned?”
“I learned ‘Al Tira: do not fear from sudden terror…’”
“Why not?”
“I dunno, I just know that because I’m Jewish, I don’t have to be afraid. Not even when things look scary.”
“You’re a clever boy! Now,” says ‘Mordechai’ turning to the second boy, “what did you learn?”
“I learned ‘Utzu Eitza: plan your (evil) plots but they will be foiled…because Hashem is with us.’”
“Wonderful! Now let the oldest boy tell me what he has learned.”
“‘V’Ad Zikna Ani Hu: until old age I am with you…’”
“And what does this pasuk mean?”
“That Hashem is watching over us and protecting us all of the time, not just when there is an emergency. Even when we are going through the natural difficulties of life, like old age, Hashem is carrying us through it, and we need not fear.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, a big yasher ko’ach to each of you! Now I know that we will succeed to activate the faith that’s hidden within. The children are already glowing with faith, and they will bring their enthusiasm home and inspire their parents too.”
The music starts, the lights go on and the four boys start dancing and singing Utzu Eitza.
The above story is fiction. The lesson is based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 21 p. 206-213.