Purim’s back! Once again, we flip life upside down to celebrate Jewish resilience and release some steam. And wow—do we need it.

But in a time when reality already feels upside down—with continued conflicts, violence, and growing tyranny—what is this year’s Purim purpose? What’s behind the mask? 

In response to Elon Musk’s recent claim  that “the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy,” I’d argue that the spirit and purpose of Purim—and so many of our holidays and traditions—is precisely the opposite: to expand our empathy. Our gatherings are designed to connect us more deeply with each other and our shared values, strengthening the bonds that bind us together. Empathy is not our weakest social link. And it certainly isn’t measured in spreadsheets. It’s the strong, beating heart of civilization and at the core of our sacred Jewish journey. 

Behind the mask of Musk are powers that threaten our existence, and Purim gives us the opportunity to peek beyond all masks, ask tough questions, reclaim our resilience, and, if we’re lucky, laugh—a lot. We need that too.

I spoke about the purpose of Purim and how this year its role is as a masterclass in loving  harder—at our recent Sabbath Queen gathering. 

Watch the full sermon or just one-minute highlight. The gist? Purim, now more than ever, is an invitation to revisit Esther’s complicated survival story and it’s mostly about how we get to nourish and sustain each other. The core must-haves of the holiday are simple but profound: sharing food gifts with each other, hosting a festive feast, with permission for excessive drinking, and doubling down on generosity for those in need.

Even the custom of blurring binaries—however you get there – so you can’t tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys—is about Purim’s deeper call to rupture rigid stances, and cultivate empathy, not just for those we love easily, but for the parts of ourselves (and others) that are harder to embrace. 

Compassion takes courage, which is where Purim’s other big life-lesson comes in. 

Purim is also about cultivation of courage. Brave Esther’s story—messy as it is—is about speaking truth to power, resisting injustice, and taking risks for what’s right. What can we learn from her saga, including the shadows,  that can help us hold onto hope,  and fight for dignity and justice for all, proud and loud—right now? 

There are many ways to walk in her royal shoes this Purim season and beyond. 

Check out this article, published last week, that I co-wrote with LGBTQ rights leader Julie Dorf about the threat of Project Esther and why we must claim her back.

So I ask…how will you activate Purim this year?
Here are some ideas to walk in Esther’s shoes, perhaps literally, activating empathy, courage, and some delicious love: 

As we like to say at Lab/Shul – Aleinu – it’s on us. Empathy and courage is how we will rise to this occasion, against tyranny and cruelty, fury and fear. 

Wherever and however you celebrate, I hope this Purim brings about the blessings of joy at tough times, expanding empathy, cultivating courage. And a few belly laughs too. 

Let’s lift up these words from the final chapters of the Scroll of Esther — wishing for these days to help us rise ‘from grief to joy, and from mourning to merriment’ 

 מִיָּגוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה וּמֵאֵבֶל לְיוֹם טוֹב

Purim on, with love,
Rabbi Amichai