Editing Purim (section)

== In Chassidic Teachings ==
In Chassidic teachings, it is explained that there is a deep connection between Purim and Yom Kippur, which is even expressed in the name of Yom Kippur as "Kipurim" - like Purim. As the Alter Rebbe wrote: "Purim and Yom Kippur are of the same essence; Yom Kippur means 'like Purim'." The Rebbe explains that Purim even has a greater virtue than Yom Kippur. What both have in common is their connection to the concept of goral (lottery) - in Purim, Haman cast a lot, and on Yom Kippur there is a lottery between the two goats. This represents something above nature, and similarly, Hashem relates to us in these days in a supernatural way. However, while on Yom Kippur this is accomplished through fasting and self-denial, on Purim it is specifically accomplished through drinking wine and rejoicing.

Furthermore, the lottery of Purim is much more elevated than the lottery of Yom Kippur because on Yom Kippur the lottery was for the goats - whether for Hashem or for Azazel - while in Purim the lottery was about Hashem Himself or the sitra achra (the "other side").

In Chassidic teachings, it is also explained that the reason Purim is named after the "pur" (lottery) is because Haman wanted to arouse prosecution against the Jewish people at a level that is above hishtalshelut (the chain of spiritual worlds), the level of lottery. However, since the Essential Choice of Hashem is specifically with the Jewish people, and this choice is above even the lottery, the holiday is specifically called by this name, as it expresses the lofty revelation of Purim - Hashem's love for the Jewish people that is at the level of lottery.

The reason the holiday is called by its Persian name rather than in the holy tongue (Hebrew) is to express that even when a Jew is engaged in mundane matters with a non-Jew, even then Hashem relates to him in a way that is beyond nature.

The Baal Shem Tov explained the halacha that "one who reads the Megillah backwards has not fulfilled his obligation" to mean that one who thinks the Megillah is something historical and not relevant today is considered as if he hasn't read the Megillah at all. This is because the entire purpose of the Megillah is to teach us how to conduct ourselves even in our days. In Chassidic teachings, it is explained that Purim is the only holiday that occurred during galut (exile) and it comes to teach us how to behave in exile - that even when there is concealment and the connection between Hashem and Israel is not visibly apparent, nevertheless the inner connection between them continues. "Haman's decree" caused the revelation of the connection between them, as from the side of the Jewish people it caused them to return to their source and be willing to sacrifice their lives, and from Hashem's side, He saved them.

The Gemara states on the verse "the Jews confirmed what they had already begun to do" that at the time of Matan Torah (the Giving of the Torah), the Jewish people received the Torah under coercion, but in Purim "they accepted it again in the days of Achashverosh" - they accepted the Torah anew willingly. In Chassidic teachings, it is explained that this doesn't mean they literally received the Torah under coercion at Mt. Sinai, but rather that Hashem revealed Himself to them and that is what caused them to accept the Torah. However, during Purim, Hashem was in concealment and hiddenness, and despite this, they chose Hashem and accepted the Torah anew.