When All of Moscow is Yours: The Hidden Message of Purim

Adar 8, 5785 - Saturday, March 8, 2025

The Drunkard and His Bottle: A Lesson in Perception

In his youth, the holy Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch, known lovingly by his Chassidim as the Rebbe Rayatz, found himself at a farbrengen—a sacred gathering of souls, where warmth, wisdom, and melody intermingle. Hours passed, and as the night grew deeper, the mashke (the traditional alcoholic beverage) ran dry. But a farbrengen without mashke is like a flame without oil; the spirit may burn, but it lacks its fullness.

Yet, the late hour cast shadows of danger over the streets. The fear of wandering through the city, where lurking threats from hostile gentiles awaited, held every Chassid captive to his place. None dared to venture out into the night—none, except the Rebbe Rayatz. For him, fear and his being were "two opposites," oil and water that could not mix.

He rose, a figure of resolve, and stepped into the night to seek mashke. Through the dim streets, his eyes caught the sight of a drunkard—a gentile, sprawled on the cold earth, a half-full bottle of vodka cradled beside him like a treasure.

Approaching with gentle urgency, the Rebbe Rayatz offered to purchase the bottle. The man refused. The Rebbe doubled his offer, then doubled it again, raising the price far beyond the bottle’s worth. But the drunkard held fast, his grip on the bottle tighter than reason. "Vodka I have bought," he declared, "and vodka I shall not sell—not even for tenfold its value."

With curiosity and kindness, the Rebbe asked, "Why?"

The drunkard’s answer, slurred yet profound, rose into the cold air: "Even if you give me a hundred rubles, what will I have? A hundred rubles and nothing more. But with this bottle in my hand, as I pour it into myself—all of Moscow is mine!"

Returning to the farbrengen, the Rebbe Rayatz did not carry the mashke, but he brought back something far greater. "I did not bring the mashke," he proclaimed, "but I did bring the 'idea' of the mashke."

He would recount this story many times, drawing from it a wellspring of wisdom: Whoever possesses true faith in God holds not only "all of Moscow" but the entire world in their hands. With a heart full of joy and trust in the Creator, a person is secure, knowing that God will provide for all their needs.

The Joyous Message of Purim: Only Good!

As Purim approaches, the happiest day of the year, its light beckons us to grasp its ultimate lesson, to celebrate with clarity and purpose. But why is this holiday called "Purim" (lots) and not, as other holidays, named after the miracle itself?

Our sages impart a fascinating halacha (Jewish law) unique to Purim: "One must drink until he cannot distinguish between 'Cursed is Haman' and 'Blessed is Mordechai.'" A curious command, indeed. What lies beneath this teaching?

The answer lies in the essence of what Purim represents. The holiday is called "Purim" to teach us a profound truth: what may initially appear as a random and perhaps unfavorable turn of fate can ultimately reveal itself to be the greatest blessing. Just as Haman cast lots to determine the "ideal" day for his evil plot against the Jewish people, what seemed like a dark decree instead became the source of immense light. In the end, not only were the Jews saved, but they also rose to greatness among the nations, earning respect and reverence from all who witnessed the turn of events.

This teaches us that even when life feels governed by "lots," by random chance and uncertainty, every outcome is guided by the hand of the Divine. What we perceive as a setback or a trial may, in truth, be the doorway to our greatest triumph.

This is the bridge between Purim and the destruction of Amalek. The Hebrew word עמלק (Amalek) holds the same numerical value (240) as the word ספק (safek), meaning "doubt." Amalek casts the shadow of doubt upon the faith of Am Yisrael, clouding the clarity of divine orchestration.

This is why Moshe stood upon the mountain during the battle with Amalek, his hands raised to the heavens. When the Children of Israel looked up, they saw not merely the outstretched arms of their leader but the vast sky, a reminder to lift their hearts to God. The ultimate lesson: everything is from Him, and through faith, doubt crumbles into dust.

The Mitzvah to Drink

One of the most enigmatic laws of Purim is the command to drink until one cannot distinguish between "Cursed is Haman" and "Blessed is Mordechai." What could this possibly mean?

The depth of this teaching lies in the profound spiritual truth that on Purim, we are called to transcend the dualities of good and evil. Haman represents darkness, and Mordechai represents light. In our ordinary state, we discern between the two, blessing the light and cursing the darkness.

However, on Purim, we reach a level where we recognize that everything, even what appears as darkness, is ultimately from Hashem. The same divine hand that uplifted Mordechai also orchestrated the downfall of Haman. Just as the lots that Haman cast led to his own demise and the salvation of the Jewish people, we come to understand that even the bitter is a preparation for the sweet.

When we drink on Purim, it is not merely a celebration of joy but an act of spiritual elevation. We rise to a state where all distinctions fade, and we see only the unity of God’s will. This is not a loss of awareness but rather a higher awareness, one that sees beyond the surface, where all things work together for the ultimate good.

Embracing the Ultimate Lesson of Purim

Purim is a celebration of hidden miracles and revealed faith. It teaches us that true joy is found not in the eradication of challenge but in the recognition that all, even the darkness, is woven by the hand of the Divine. And when we drink, sing, and rejoice on Purim, we step beyond the dualities of this world, entering a place where all is from God and all is good.

May we celebrate this Purim with an overflowing heart, knowing that with true faith, "all of Moscow", indeed, the whole world, is in our hands.

Shabbat Shalom!