![](/sites/default/files/styles/600x600/public/2024-03/shutterstock_364103507-2.jpg?itok=q1TT2KoJ)
The decree has been promulgated and publicized through the empire. 127 provinces have received “hurried” instructions that they should “destroy,…
![](/sites/default/files/2020-12/blog-dummy.jpg)
One of the (many) strange features of Purim is the fact that we do not recite Hallel. “The Prophets among them established [Hallel] for the Jewish…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/Torah%20in%20motion%20Holidays%20Thoughts%20Rabbi%20Jay%20kelman.png?itok=PcR-ndeu)
Rav Soloveitchik argued that there is no independent field of Jewish philosophy. Rather, this master of Jewish philosophy—with a Ph.D. in neo-Kantian…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/megila1.gif?itok=_kEHkTTG)
Rare is the person who has the opportunity to knowingly shape the course of Jewish history. Most are happy to be relieved of that responsibility.…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/Zachor.jpg?itok=yG1EsjTu)
"He shall surely be put to death." "They shall be pelted with stones and thus stoned to death." "He shall be burned with fire." "His soul shall be…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_1781696471.jpg?itok=cgntmVBM)
Purim marks a transition point in Jewish history. It ushers in the time period of hester panim, the transition from G-d's obvious and active…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_1097370959.jpg?itok=2b-Rmlrn)
Purim celebrates the eternity of the Jewish people. Despite exile and dispersion, genocidal enemies and those willing to turn a blind eye to such,…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/anonimmus-930863_640_0.jpg?itok=Pi0zu0oN)
"Where is Haman recorded in the Torah?" So asks the Talmud (Chulin 139b), in a seemingly incomprehensible question. Surely one would…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_1322097929.jpg?itok=wmMmeCRG)
What should one do when the needs of the Jewish people conflict with the needs of Judaism? When the only way to keep our people Jewishly involved is…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_1486800713.jpg?itok=uJZNsNAL)
“When Adar enters, we increase our joy” (Taanit 29a). Presumably, the increased joy is due to the upcoming Purim festivities, the most joyous of…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_2154839139.jpg?itok=iQrWGswS)
"It was contemptible in his eyes to harm Mordechai alone; for they identified for him the people of Mordechai; Haman sought to destroy all the Jews…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_1305277435.jpg?itok=FNJL8TKL)
Imagine if every few years the Gregorian calendar had two Decembers. When would people shop? We of course are faced with a similar dilemma seven…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/shutterstock_2108084552.jpg?itok=nq9UcIgW)
“Kol Yisrael Areivim zeh lazeh”, all Jews are guarantors for one another. While we may not always live up to this ideal, the non-Jewish…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_big_600x/public/cracked%20floor.jpg?itok=J5l1Ek5R)
“And Haman said to King Achashverosh: There is a certain nation scattered and divided amongst the nations” (3:8). Haman was well aware of the…