Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

If challenges yield complacency, unending growth rewards life’s traveler. This reality for life’s physical journey is foundational for the spiritual seeker. The rising spring sun separating the hidden miracles of Purim and the open miracles of Pesach provides a renewed springboard of ascent above spiritual impediments, returning us to our intended path.

As the great Rav Adin Steinsaltz, zt”l more aptly captures in “A Guide for the Newly Observant Jew:”

“The heartfelt desire for transcendence, for some kind of contact with the Holy One, blessed be He, is the inner expression of the human soul, the very essence of humanness. This aspiration, which grows ever stronger as one’s inner stature grows, can never be fully realized, for with spiritual growth and the deepening of knowledge comes ever-clearer recognition of the unbridgeable chasm between oneself and the infinite. Ordinary satisfactions are attained easily enough, but to attain something higher, beyond normal human limitations, is possible only through Divine grace.”

In capturing the opportunity for lasting growth, the Nesivos Shalom draws inspiration from the pasuk that famously obligates one to become intoxicated on Purim. Referring to this as amongst the most “wondrous” aspects of the day, the Slonimer Rebbe points out that Purim is a day steeped in kedusha, encompassing numerous lofty concepts. In fact, many seforim refer to Yom Kippur as “yom k’purim,” a day that is like Purim. Additionally there is an idea that there was an aspect of “coercion” when we received the Torah, with the day of Purim subsequently known as the time that the Jews fully reaccepted the Torah willingly. Finally, Purim is well known as the ideal time to wipe out the “Amalek” in our lives.

Clearly Purim is a day when we must be clear minded and in full control of our faculties. As such, how can it be that we’re obligated to get drunk on Purim?

Through a play on words, the Nesivos Shalom beautifully points to the language of the pasuk as actually obligating us to become intoxicated “b’Puriyah”—on Purim, not on wine. He further explains that rising to a state of being unable to discern the difference between cursing Haman and blessing Mordechai applies equally to three of the foundational aspects of the day: reading the Megillah, sending shalach manos to others and wiping out Amalek. He further connects these three aspects to the foundational areas of striving for completeness in our relationship with our Creator, with our friends and with ourselves.

Reading the Megillah corresponds to perfecting our relationship with Hashem. At times we perceive Hashem (whose name does not appear in the megillah) to be hidden, leading to a feeling of distance in our relationship with God. Conversely, through removing nature’s “mask,” we discover cherished moments of closeness, inspiring our passion for religious growth. Amidst these seemingly diametrically opposite phases, the Nesivos Shalom teaches that we must arrive at the recognition that Hashem intentionally orchestrates everything for the best.

Among our interpersonal relationships lies those with whom we feel closer than others. Consistent with the foundational requirement to “love our fellow as ourselves,” the mitzvah to send shalach manos on Purim is intended to lift us above the pettiness, eliminating the illusion of opposing “Mordechai” and “Haman” relationships in our lives.

Lastly, coming to peace with ourselves and destroying our internal “Amalek” is a required prerequisite for interpersonal as well as spiritual growth. Successfully eradicating our negatives enables us to fully focus on replacing them with the positive. Authentic religious growth demands successfully transforming the physical and spiritual into equal tools in our service of Hashem. Simultaneously, we must arrive at peace with the notion that personal perfection is unattainable, with every fall an opportunity to rise yet again (even higher!).

In fact it is within this very struggle to recognize past failures as opportunities to inspire future growth that Hashem’s most cherished seekers reside.

In recently sharing the closing story from my Rebbe, Rav Moshe Weinberger’s Purim mesibah from the year 5777, I failed to hold back my emotions and shed a few tears. Reading from a January 2017 Mishpacha Magazine tribute to the life of the gadol Rav Moshe Shapira, zt”l (who at the time was recently niftar) Rav Weinberger shared:

“With the recent passing of Rav Moshe Shapira, talmidim recalled their blessed moments of Purim in the presence of their Rebbe. On Purim, this man who kept so much inside was freer with words, his emotions flowing forth more easily than usual.

One talmid came in and sat down at the far end of the table on Purim. A ba’al teshuva, he made incredible sacrifices turning away from friends and family in order to cling to a Torah lifestyle. The hardships only increased after he became religious—problems with finances, family and health. Nothing, it seemed, went easy for him. Still, he persevered.

Rav Moshe was surrounded by talmidim—great talmidei chachamim, respected marbitzei Torah and successful activists. Yet he looked past the throngs and he addressed this unfortunate talmid at the end of the table:

“You know, Reb Chaim,” he said.

“When Moshiach finally arrives, there will be a great kabbalas panim. There will be a long receiving line of dignitaries, great gaonim, and respected rebbes, the wealthy and prominent of Klal Yisrael. They will give him shalom and will introduce themselves.

He will listen to each one and then turn to the next person, one after another. He will go through the crowd.

And you—Chaim?” he said.

You will be sitting in the back, but eventually your turn will come. He will extend his hand—“And who are you?” Moshiach will ask.”

Rav Moshe’s voice filled the apartment.

“And Reb Chaim, you will tell him—“I am the one who brought you here. I am the one who brought you here.”

Daniel Gibber is a longtime resident of Teaneck and is a VP of Sales at Deb El Food Products. In addition to learning as much Torah as he can, he is also privileged to speak periodically on the topic of emunah and be involved in Jewish outreach through Olami Manhattan. He can be reached at: [email protected]