Monday night and Tuesday of this week are called Purim Katan (“Little Purim”).

Normally, Purim is celebrated on the 14th day in Adar. However, since this is a leap year, there are 2 months of Adar: Adar Rishon (#1) and Adar Sheini (#2). In which of these two Adar’s should we celebrate Purim?

Chazal decided we should celebrate Purim on the14th of Adar Sheini (#2). Even so, the 14th of Adar #1 still has special power. This day (starting tonight!) is known as “Purim Katan” (“Little Purim”) since it would have been Purim if this would have been a regular year (not a leap year).

What Is the Special Power of Purim?

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein¹ explains that the underlying spiritual cause for Haman’s decree was that the Jews in the times of Purim were lacking in Achdus (unity). This problem is hinted to in the Megillah, when Haman said: “Yeshno am echad mefuzar u’meforad – There is a [Jewish] nation that should be Echad (unified), but instead, they are scattered and separate” (Esther 3:8).

The underlying spiritual cause for Haman’s decree was that the Jews in the times of Purim were lacking in Achdus (unity).

Since the problem was our lack of unity, the way to rectify the problem was through joining together again. That’s why Esther told Mordechai: “Leich k’nos es kol hayehudim – Go gather all the Jews” (Esther 4:16). Only by unifying together could we be saved from Haman’s evil decree. Hashem allowed Haman to scare the Jews with his decree in order to motivate us to improve our feelings of Achdus (unity).

The Jewish people in the times of Purim rose to the occasion and unified together in prayer and fasting. Seeing their togetherness, Hashem saved the Jews from Haman’s evil decree.

Seeing their togetherness, Hashem saved the Jews from Haman’s evil decree.

Today, when we celebrate Purim, we re-awaken these feelings of unity by giving each other shalach manos. In fact, the halachah says that if you give someone shalach manos but don’t tell them who the gift is from, you have not fulfilled your obligation!! Why not? Because you have not accomplished the goal of increasing friendship and unity. The whole point of shalach manos is to increase friendship and unity, and with that, we can bring the final geulah (redemption).

Today, on Purim Katan, let’s do something to demonstrate our unity with our fellow Jews.

Today, on Purim Katan, let’s do something to demonstrate our unity with our fellow Jews.

Sources: [1] The ideas presented in this email are taken from Rabbi Daniel Glatstein’s shiur entitled: “The Power of the Half Shekel: Jewish Unity and the Unity of Hashem.” Highly recommended!!

Your Challenge

Do something to demonstrate achdus (unity) with your fellow Jews.

For example:

• Smile at another Jew while thinking about how you are brothers/sisters, both children of Hashem.
• Daven for something specific that you know your friend needs.
• Daven for something that the Jewish people needs (as a whole).
• Speak to someone you are usually uncomfortable speaking with.
• Call someone to resolve a misunderstanding.
• Stop yourself from saying something negative about another Jew, or about a group of Jews.

…Or do anything else you can think of, to demonstrate unity!