“For the Jews, There was Light, Joy, Gladness, and Honor” – Dancing at the Wine Feast in the King’s Courtyard

AS EVERY YEAR, ALL OF JERUSALEM KNOWS THAT THE TRUEST AND MOST FULFILLING JOY, TO MERIT TO ASCEND TO THE FIFTIETH GATE AT THE PURIM WINE FEAST, TAKES PLACE IN THE COURTYARD OF THE KING’S PALACE—IN THE COURTYARD OF THE SHUVU BANIM SYNAGOGUE, BENEATH THE HOLY HOME OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A. As in every year, so too this year—on Shushan Purim HaMeshulash—the gabbaim of the Shuvu Banim synagogue organized a special orchestra, featuring the musicians without whom the joy of Purim cannot be heard: R’ Shimon Marian together with additional musicians.  They accompanied the long hours with boundless joy, causing all the Jews who had come and gathered to rejoice in the joy of Purim with Mordechai the Tzaddik to dance and jump. At 4:00 PM, the Purim wine feast began. After the Mincha prayer, the orchestra began playing, and as the hours passed, the dancing only intensified. Members of our community came from across the city—some inebriated, in accordance with the law and without coercion, while most, as per the Tzaddik’s instructions, were intoxicated only by virtue of their being disciples of the Tzaddik—under the influence of the Hungarian wine which streams to them throughout the year and erupting during the holy days of Purim, reaching its peak during the exalted dancing with burning fervor reaching the heart of the heavens. Even the most depressed person who found himself caught up in the storm of dancing could not remain indifferent in the face of this overwhelming, transcendent joy. Elders and youths, Chassidic and Litvish yeshiva bachurs, rabbis and maggidei shiur alongside mashgichim and community mashpi’im together with simple Jews—all stood hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, like one person with one heart, rejoicing and dancing over the miracles that happened in those days, at this time. They cried out joyously: "To make known that all who take refuge in You will never be shamed!!" It’s worth noting that one of the peak moments of the night was when the musician, R’ Shimon Marian, began singing heartfelt melodies, culminating in "Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael," a prayer for the release of all the hostages. The community formed a vast circle, and words cannot describe the awesomeness – as Moreinu HaRav shlit”a had declared that morning: Through dancing, it is possible to bring about all salvations in all areas—both personal and for the entire Jewish people! After more than six consecutive hours of fiery dancing in celebration of Purim, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, adorned in his tallit and holy garments, emerged onto his balcony for the Maariv prayer, marking the closing of this holy day at 10:20 PM, the conclusion of Shushan Purim HaMeshulash. For nearly half an hour, the dancing continued with the song "Or Zarua LaTzaddik." This was followed by Maariv and an awe-inspiring shiur. Finally, as all these days of Purim reached their conclusion, they were renewed with songs of Uman for some twenty minutes, sung with great joy and vitality until close to Chatzot at 11:45 PM.  Then the prayer concluded and, in effect, brought to an end three days full and overflowing with the abundance of Hungarian wine, flowing forth from the flowing stream, the source of wisdom, Purim HaMeshulash 5785!