Category: Purim

  • Why The Jews?

    The question is why the Jews are the only people who have faced genocide throughout history. The answer is simple. The Jews represent a morality from God. And many people do not want to be moral.

  • We Are God’s Vessels

    The reason that the Jews built the Golden Calf was that they thought that without Moses that they would not have been redeemed. The lesson is that our leaders are vessels for God. They succeed when they do what God expects.

  • Jewish Unity Defeats All

    The main lesson of Purim is that we are required to have a festive meal with our neighbors, give charity, and give each other gifts. This is to promote Jewish unity. As Rabbi Kook mentions, the Temple will be rebuilt through senseless love.

  • A Lesson in Bad Governance

    The story of Purim tells us that the real danger to the Jewish people is not people who are evil. We can find them easily enough, but of leaders who are venal and corruptible. Without them the evil doers do not have a chance to do evil.

  • Hanukah and Purim

    Why do we say Hallel on Hanukah bur not Purim? What is the difference between the two festivals?

  • God is in the Details

    פרשת צו – שושן פורים / ט”ו באדר ב’ תשפ”ב

    While God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther (Migilat Esther), we do see God’s hand guiding the events of the story through the way the story is told. This is to teach us that God is in our lives if only we bother to pay attention.

  • Do The Right Thing

    פרשת צו / י”ב באדא ב’ תשפ”ב

    At the critical moment when Mordechai begs Esther to approach the king, she demurs. Mordechai reminds her that she is also under the decree. That if we need to do the right thing no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel.

  • Destroy Evil

    פרשת ויקרא / ז’ באדר ב’תשפ”ב

    This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, in which we remember the commandment to destroy Amalek. Why does the Torah take such a strong stand against Amalek? To teach that there are some things that are so evil they must be destroyed.

  • The Ultimate Defeat of Evil

    פרשת כי תישה / י”ד באדר א’ תשפ”ב

    The ultimate defeat of evil is not just to survive but to survive in a way that shows they failed to destroy your humanity. As long as you follow God’s commandments evil is defeated. As long as a Jew celebrates being Jewish then the Nazis have been defeated again.

  • Approach Life with Happiness

    פרשת תרומה / ב’ באדר ’ תשפ”ב

    As we enter the month of Adar, we should remember that no matter what problems that we have the best way to approach them is with happiness. That is the best way to avoid depression.