19 classes & essays
Purim
Purim celebrates the rescue of the Jewish people from Haman's decree in the days of Mordechai and Esther, a salvation hidden within seemingly natural events. Its mitzvot are hearing the Megillah, sending gifts of food to friends, giving to the poor and a festive meal.
Video classes
Essays
Holidays Purim – Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder Queen Esther, we all think, was a most beautiful woman and that that was the reason she was chosen by the Persian King… Holidays Purim – Fighting the Modern Hamans The Shabbos before Purim is known as Parshas Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance because during this Shabbos we read the selection… Holidays Purim – Building Bridges Whenever we find ourselves in an in-between period I cannot help but to reflect on our own “in between” place in history – in… Holidays Purim – Purim, Redemption and Transcendence TRANSCENDENCE Judaism is all about knowledge. We are enjoined to know G-d, to study Torah, to ask questions and to find answers.… Holidays Purim – L’chaim On Purim the sounds of the “L’chaim-to life” will reverberate throughout the Jewish world. The Rebbe once explained that the word… Holidays Purim – Purim the Greatest Holiday The myth is that Purim is a minor, minor holiday; a fun time. It certainly is not a serious or major Holiday. It has even been… Holidays Purim – Sleepless in Shushan (2) Purim is known for the miracles that are cloaked within nature. G-d did not reveal His power then in the manner of Passover with… Holidays Purim – The Miracle of Purim When we analyze the story of Purim we come to the conclusion that it was a rather natural event. A New York Times reporter who… Holidays Purim – The Elephant Hat A Purim Parady Holidays Purim – The Misfortune of Purim The Talmud makes an observation. Wherever the Torah uses the word vayehi-and it was it is an expression of misfortune or pain. It… Holidays Purim – To Drink or Not to Drink Purim and Shemini: The joyous Festival of Purim occurs, in some years in the week that we read the parsha of Shemini. (Leap Years,… Holidays Purim – Transformation As we enter into the joyous month of Adar, it is appropriate for us to reflect on the concept of joy as it pertains to this month… Holidays Purim – What’s the Point? Hamantashen are the staple of Purim, yet as Purim itself has been relegated, incorrectly, to the status of a minor holiday, so too… Holidays Purim – Who Comes to Whom? By Divine providence, the sixteenth of Adar, the first day after Shushan Purim, introduced a revolutionary phenomenon. That is…