Audio 1695 articles

Rabbi Etshalom discusses the canonization of Esther, how chazal viewed the book, general issues of understanding the megillah, & takes a look at the opening section. The OU’s Nach Yomi presents...

Everyone knows that bread is a strict no-no during Pesach. But what about after Pesach–no problem, right? Wrong! Join Rabbi Yaakov Luban, Executive Rabbinic Coordinator of OU Kashruth, for a thorough...

In naming the holiday of Purim, we emphasize the pur, the lottery of Haman. What is the significance and how does it relate to the essence of Amalek?

The message of Purim is that we need to look at seemingly natural events with enough sensitivity to see the hand of God in “the miracles of the mundane”. Part one...

The very act of making Esther part of Tanach demonstrates that even seemingly natural events are really God’s hand.  This is implied in the name “Megillat Esther” –  literally “revealing that...

Mordechai was perplexed about why Esther was selected to become the queen…until Haman’s decree. Once Mordechai learns of the decree we are told that “Mordechai Yada” meaning that he understood what...

What does the Gemara mean when it says that at the time of the Purim story the Jews accepted the Torah willingly? How do the 4 mitzvot of Purim reflect this...

We see throughout Tanach that women are able to see the bigger picture. Men are here & now focused. Mordechai & Esther’s approaches reflect this dichotomy. Part five of eight from...

What is the difference between the kabbalat haTorah at Har Sinai on Shavuot (which was out of fear) and that of Purim (which was out of love)? What is the additional dimension?...

It’s not until the end that we see that all the random events come together, as a result, if one would read the megillah backwards they wouldn’t be yotzei. Part seven...