Why do we wear costumes on Purim?
• Because it’s fun!
• Because it’s important to relive the Purim story by “becoming” its characters!
• Because Purim is a holiday that’s a lot more Jewish than Halloween!
• Because Esther hid her identity and we, too, get to hide ours on the outside...but like her we must be Jewish on the inside!
All of these are excellent answers. Here yet is another answer. When Joseph met Benjamin after some 20 years in Egypt, he gave all of his brothers a robe, but he gave his brother Benjamin five robes. Why did he do this and what does this have to do with Purim? He did it because he wanted to see if his brothers would still act on their feelings of jealousy and to see if they had learned their lesson. In fact, the brothers followed all the directives given them by Joseph and were protective of their youngest brother Benjamin. This proved that they had repented and changed. The Talmud says that Joseph gifted Benjamin with five robes because he had a prophetic instinct that the tribe of Benjamin would include a man who would indeed wear five robes. Who would this man be? None other than Mordecai.
Throughout the Megillah story, Mordecai wears many robes. First, he wears his normal everyday robe. He then dons a sackcloth robe when he mourns before the palace upon hearing of Haman's edict. Soon, he ends up donning the robes of the king himself, as he is ridden through the streets of Shushan on the king’s horse, led by a disgraced Haman. He is later given the signet and yet another outfit when he is made a minister, following the hanging of Haman. Finally, on the fifth occasion, Mordecai leaves the king’s presence in a royal robe of blue and white, with a crown of gold and a cloak of fine linen and purple. (Esther 8:15) Five changes of clothes in the course of the Megillah, the fifth time in a five-robe ensemble! And that, my friends, is probably the biggest reason we wear costumes on Purim.
And what does Mordecai have to do with Jacob's son Benjamin? Mordecai was a Benjaminite, as was King Saul, whose kingship was torn away because of his failure to fully defeat Amalek. Mordecai was descended from King Saul, and he “repairs” the name of Saul by rooting out, once and for all, the Amalekites, for the Amalekites were the nation of Haman. So, say the sages, is the other reason that Joseph gave his brother Benjamin five garments.
What do we learn from this twisted tale of garments? We learn that failures over time can be undone and “repaired.” We learn that we may wear many garments on the outside, but it is important to always let the Jewish soul shine through. We learn that there are many layers in this Megillah story, as there are many layers in Jewish history. And we learn that, no doubt, Mordecai had an excellent tailor!
I look so forward to seeing our children and the “young at heart” in costume, as we celebrate Purim this year, on Saturday night, February 23rd, and Sunday morning at 9:00 am on February 24th. Be a part of the joy of Purim. Be there or be square.
In advance– a fraileche Purim...Hag Purim Sameah!