Purim—the Day when We Celebrate Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
The Zohar compares Yom Kippur to Purim stating that Yom HaKipurim may be interpreted as “a day like Purim” (k-purim in Hebrew means “like purim”). On Purim we feast; on Yom Kippur we fast—what the two can have in common? Indeed, Purim and Yom Kippur have something very important in common. Both days share a common root—pur—meaning a “lot” (or pl. purim—“lots”). On Yom Kippur, two lots were placed in a wooden box—one say “to G‑d”, and the other “to Azazel.” (See my post, “Tale of Entangled Goats”). The High Priest relied on a lottery to choose which goat would be used for a sacrifice to G‑d and which to atone for the sins of Jewish People. On Purim, Haman threw two lots to determine the month and the day of a pogrom, [...]
