By Rabbi Hanan Leberman in San Diego, California
“When the month of Adar enters, we increase in joy.”
Next week, we welcome the month of Adar, and Purim is only two weeks away.
Having never gone trick-or-treating until moving here to become your rabbi, I gained a new appreciation this past Halloween for what makes Purim so unique. Halloween is largely about taking—we dress up and go door to door asking for candy. It is fun and builds community, but at its core, it encourages receiving.
Purim teaches us something deeper. Purim is about giving.
Our sages teach that there are four mitzvot on Purim. We gather to hear the story of Esther and how our people were saved. We give matanot la’evyonim to ensure that those in need can celebrate with dignity. We share in a festive meal filled with joy. And we give mishloach manot—gifts of food to one another.
While each mitzvah is essential, mishloach manot holds a special power. It transforms our community from a collection of individuals into a web of connections. We do not simply celebrate alone; we reach out to friends, neighbors, and fellow congregants and say, “I am thinking of you. You matter to me. We rejoice together.”
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that we wear costumes on Purim to protect dignity when we give to those in need. On a deeper level, Purim reminds us that giving itself brings the greatest joy. When we give, we remove barriers between us. We increase not only simcha, but unity.
That is why I am writing to you.
As your rabbi, I encourage you to fulfill the mitzvah of mishloach manot through our synagogue. By purchasing your mishloach manot through Tifereth Israel, you accomplish multiple mitzvot at once: you bring joy to members of our community, you strengthen bonds between congregants, and you support our Torah School, where our children are being taught not only how to celebrate Judaism, but how to be givers.
Here’s how to take part in our Mishloach Manot.
Adar calls upon us to increase in joy. One of the most powerful ways we do that is by increasing in generosity.
Please join me in bringing in the month of Adar with elevated joy, meaningful connection, and abundant giving.
Adar Sameach!
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Rabbi Hanan Leberman is the spiritual leader at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.