Purim

As the month of Adar begins, everyone increases their happiness.

Everyone? Not exactly. Many families find themselves increasing their stress and worries.

They are busy worrying about how to scrape together a few more pennies to finish the month…

And as Purim gets closer, their concerns increase.

For them, costumes mean social pressure and shame.

Mishloach Manot denote inferiority complex and unpleasantness.

The Purim feast involves dealing with deprivation and want.

Only the Mitzvah of Matanot LaEvyonim provides them with a ray of hope…

As early as Rosh Chodesh Adar, the Birkat Hashem staff work on ensuring that no family will deliberate over which basic commodity they can manage without, instead of dithering over which variety of wine to buy.

Chicken, fish, and fine wine are distributed in advance to every family in need, in a dignified way. This is apart from the substantial sum of money given on Purim itself as Matanot LaEvyonim. A quiet knock on the door, without fanfare or embarrassing publicity, and an envelope of life and hope is handed to the head of the needy family, or to the widow struggling on her own.

Is there a greater Purim happiness than this?