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Adar 13 5781 | Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
The Counterpoint of Leadership
One of the most important Jewish contributions to our understanding of leadership is its early insistence of “the separation of powers”. Neither authority nor power was to be located in a single individual or office. Instead, leadership was divided between different kinds of roles.
Tetzave
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Irony & Hashem's "Sense of Humor" as Basics in Purim and Jewish Thought!
The Maharal, Rav Kook and others teach of the central theme on Purim of "Overturning"= V'Nahafoch Hu", but the question is: why is this so important? The class suggests 8 reasons why this concept is what convinced Yitro to convert to Judaism, and why this "boomerang" shows not only the irony and humor of God's history, but is so basic to understanding Judaism, justice, philosophy and more.
The Essence of Purim
44 min
Adar 13 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Hooray for Haman!
Sometimes, alas, our enemies get it right. Haman hit the proverbial nail on the head when he described the Jews (Esther 3:8) as a "disjointed, disunified, dispersed" People.
Purim in Our Time
Adar 13 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Purim Is Here - What Do I Do?
The Laws of Purim
Adar 13 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Myths, the Megila and Moshiach
As in many aspects of Jewish life, myths abound concerning the Purim story. One of those myths portray Achashverosh as a harmless, bumbling old fool, pulled to and fro by his wives and advisors. Yet Gemara Megila makes it abundantly clear that Achashverosh hated the Jews no less - perhaps even more! - than did Haman.
The Essence of Purim

Popular Lessons

tamoz 5761 | Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
The Minor Fasts and Their Laws
Did Jews fast over the destruction of the First Temple when the Second Temple stood? Must pregnant and nursing women abstain from eating and drinking on minor fasts? Rabbi Eliezer Melamed addresses these and other important questions.
The 17th of Tamuz Various Subjects
Adar 2 5768 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Purim Meshulash Guide for those in Yerushalayim Only
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5775 | Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Chapter Twenty One-Part Three Days on Which Tachanun Is Not Recited
Prayer
Adar 2 5768 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
What Happens When Purim Coincides With Shabbos? Halachot of Purim Meshulash
How does one keep Purim when it falls on Shabbos? When do we observe the mitzvos and halachos of Purim?
The Laws of Purim Various Subjects
5761 | Rabbi David Dov Levanon
Acceptance of the Oral Tradition
The Sages say that the Almighty suspended Mount Sinai above the Israelites like an inverted cask and said, “If you accept the Torah, fine; if not, here will be your grave.” Why did God have to coerce the Children of Israel into receiving the Torah?
The Essence of Purim

Beit Midrash Series P'ninat Mishpat

Chapter 405

Withheld Payment During Financial Crisis

The plaintiff (=pl) worked for a yeshiva (=def) for a monthly wage of 3,500 shekels plus an 800 shekel travel allowance. When one of def’s main rabbis died, def entered difficult financial times, and salaries were not paid in full. Def decided to cut all salaries by 500 shekels, to which pl agreed, and later def and pl decided that he would not continue working there. While those who continue teaching are receiving some payments, pl received no back pay once he left the job. Pl is demanding 33,371 shekels in back pay, 8,500 shekels for severance pay, and 41,871 as penalty for late payment. Def agrees in principle to the first two payments, but is not sure how they will be able to make the payments in practice.

Various RabbisNisan 22 5777

P'ninat Mishpat

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