"To make known that all those who put their hope in You will not be shamed,and all those who refuge in you will not be embarrassed for all eternity."The main power of survival of the Torah in this exile is a result of, anddraws its strength from the root of Purim -- that in the days of the Purimmiracle, the Jewish people once again accepted the Torah, and did sowillingly (Shabbat 88a). Just like the foundation of Purim established thewilling-acceptance of the everlasting Torah, [Purim] too should be eternaland never cease being observed, as Chazal said in the Talmud Yerushalmi(Megillah 1:5). The undesirable behavior that the Jews exhibitted in thetime of Achashverosh stemmed from the hatred the Gentiles felt for them, dueto the way they [i.e. the Jews] distanced themselves from them [Gentiles]and the differences between them. But when God showed them that a decreewas made because they enjoyed the feast of that evil person and because theyoutwardly bowed to the idol [that is, they did this as a show but didn'tmean it] (B. Megillah 12a), they realized that being close to the nationswas pointless, that God is the only guardian of Israel. This is what causedthem to accept [the Torah again,] willingly. They accepted the Torahretroactively, for it became clear that in actuality, they always desiredthe Torah. Their undesirable behavior was a mistake from the beginning.
It would seem that the obligation of intoxication on Purim, as Chazal said(B. Megillah 7b) "One is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim...", alsostems from this idea. For the main reason behind the prohibition ofbecoming intoxicated is the fear that with the removal of the power to thinkclearly, someone's instinct will lead him to do evil things andabominations, God forbid. But on Purim all Israel experienced a will toaccept the Torah, and on that day the light of true will to choose the Torahand its ways shines on every Israelite who holds on to the Torah. Thereforewe are to show that even when intoxicated, we don't stray from the way ofGod, for in our very essence we are inclined to the good, and good forIsrael is closeness with God. "I have made the L-rd G-d my refuge, that Imay relate all thy works" (Psalms 73, 28).
excerpted from: HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook zt"l, Olat Re'iyah, p. 441.
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