Purim is unique among the holidays, for, as Chazal tell us, while all the other holidays will be nullified after the arrival of Moshiach, Purim (and according to some Yom Kippur as well) will continue to be celebrated. Yet Purim is not even a Biblical holiday. Why does it deserve this unique designation? The idea […]
Why should we want to be confused between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai? Why not just command us to bless Haman? What is the connection between Purim and Yom HakipPURIM?
The underlying meaning of v’nahafoch hu is that what initially is perceived as a cause is really an effect, and what seems to be an effect is really the cause. Haman was hanged on the 17th day of Nissan (see Rashi on Megillas Esther 4:17). Yet, Mordechai waited until the 23rd of Sivan to send […]
In most years, Shabbat Zachor coincides with Parshat Tetzaveh. What is the connection between them? What is the logic behind the order of the topics in parshiyot Terumah and Tetzaveh?
Why do we specifically fulfill the commandment to remember what Amalek did (zachor) on the Shabbat before Purim? Why not on a different day, for example on Taanit Esther? Delivered in Hebrew.
Rava said, It is one’s duty levasumei, to make oneself fragrant [with wine] on Purim until one cannot tell the difference between ‘arur Haman’ (cursed be Haman) and ‘baruch Mordechai’ (blessed be Mordechai) – Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 7b Over the centuries, the “duty” to make oneself “fragrant” (read, drunk) on Purim has represented the great example […]
Why did Esther request that Shushan Purim be unique and not for everyone? Why not make it a 2-day holiday? Why does she emphasize the “tomorrow”? For part 1 click here. For part 2 click here. For part 3 click here. For part 4 click here.
Both steps in the process of the Jews’ defeating Haman involved them gathering together: they gathered as one to pray for salvation and to wage war. Why the emphasis on gathering? For part 1 click here. For part 2 click here. For part 3 click here. For part 5 click here.
The whole theme of Purim is everything being turned upside down (v’nahafoch hu). It’s not that Haman wasn’t wrong in assessing Adar as a good month for his scheme. For part 1 click here. For part 2 click here. For part 4 click here. For part 5 click here.
What is the purpose of the whole first chapter of the Megillah? It doesn’t seem to be all that important to the Purim story? For part 1 click here. For part 3 click here. For part 4 click here. For part 5 click here.
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