Parshas Ki Sisa (Shushan Purim) 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
ויעמד משה בשער המחנה ויאמר מי לה' אלי ... (לב-כו)
MASHAL: The following is an exchange between a teacher and a student, wise beyond his years. The teacher was discussing careers and handed out an assignment asking the students to write about different types of jobs. After they handed in the assignments, the teacher gave a one question pop quiz: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
All the pupils began feverishly writing paragraphs about their future careers, except one. This student didn’t seem to be in a rush. He scribbled something quickly on his paper and sat quietly waiting for everyone to finish.
The teacher, assuming he was neglecting his work, began to admonish him. “Why aren’t you doing your work?” he demanded. “I already finished,” came the reply.
“Alright, let’s see your work,” said the teacher. The student handed in his work containing one single word: “Happy.”
The teacher was taken aback. “I don’t think you understand the test,” he quipped. The student - a boy wise beyond his years - answered, “And I don’t think you understand life.”
This is a person who has direction in his life!
NIMSHAL: As we continue to celebrate the happy joyful day of Purim - Meshulash through Sunday - let us stop and think about the costumes of the day. An old tradition is to dress up or put on some kind of costume we don’t normally wear. The idea is to cover up and forget, at least momentarily, our year-round self and to re-evaluate our values. Are we really heading in the direction we ought to be? Maybe we need to accept upon ourselves the yoke of Torah, again, just like the Jews in the Purim story did. In the parsha, too, we are struck by this idea. Moshe called out to all of Bnei Yisroel, "מי לה' אלי" - who is still true and faithful to the word of Hashem?!