Fake It!
"Question: How many of you, in the midst of challenge, have sometimes pasted a smile on your face and just pretended everything was OK?
I'll start: me."
That is an excerpt from Ruchi's Facebook post two days ago. It garnered over 70 comments. (Ruchi always knows how to draw everyone in!) The comments ranged from "I wish I could" to "All the time." The consensus seemed to be that almost everyone does fake it, but that it's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, why wear your problems on your face and bring others down with you? The optimists in the crowd felt that smiling can be an expression of focusing on the sliver of light that can be found even in the darkest moments.
In Hebrew the word פנים has two different meanings, (simultaneously!). It means "a face" and it also means "inside." Because often, the face is the window into a person's inner feelings. However, as we have seen from Ruchi's FB conversation, this is not always the case. Facial expressions aren't always an accurate glimpse into the window of someone else's true inner feelings.
The Torah says that when Moshe came down Mount Sinai he wore a mask over his face. This was to conceal the radiant light shining from his face after spending 40 days and nights living with G-d and the angels in heaven.
On Purim we wear masks. Perhaps this serves as our annual reminder to conceal the concealment, fill ourselves with joy, and let our true essence shine through. That's right, Purim is a time to lift the facial facade, remove inhibitions, unmask our masks and allow happiness to flow in... and out.
This Purim, may we be turned inside out and let the countenance shine from within!
L'Chayim!
Shabbat Shalom!!
Rabbi Koval
