Jewish Holidays|Photography: Shutterstock/tomertu

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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

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Jewish Holidays

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
Adar 13 5781 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
What Happens When Purim Falls on Shabbos?
When do we distribute shalach manos and matanos la’evyonim on different days? When do we distribute shalach manos and matanos la’evyonim on different days? When do we distribute shalach manos and matanos la’evyonim on different days? How can one bensch on the Purim Seudah without saying Al hanissim?
The Laws of Purim
Adar 13 5781 | Yaakov Asher Sinclair
Will You Throw Away Your Mask This Purim?
Sometimes rather than endangering lives, throwing away your mask can save lives. A message for Purim.
The Essence of Purim
3 min
Adar 11 5781 |
Purim Meshulash - What is it About?
So what is Purim HaMeshulash all about? What makes it different from every other Purim? Watch r' Odded Miller explaining.
The Laws of Purim
0 min
Adar 11 5781 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Hearing the Megilla for Those Who Cannot Go to Shul
If one who is not a ba’al koreh cannot make it to shul to hear Megillat Esther, how else can he fulfill the mitzva of hearing it?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions The Laws of Purim
Rabbi Daniel Mann
Purim Meshulash
Could you please review some of the rules and rationale of the practices of Purim Meshulash (Triple Purim) in Yerushalayim?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions The Laws of Purim
Adar 10 5781 | Rabbi Yossef Carmel
The Seeds of Unification
Megillat Esther calls Mordechai a “Judean man” and “son of Yair son of Shimi son of Kish, a Benjaminite.” The gemara is bothered by the apparent contradiction; one of its answers is that while he was genealogically from Binyamin, the people of Yehuda would argue that they deserve the credit for him because, as a descendent of Shimi, had David Hamelech killed Shimi ben Geira, Mordechai would not have been born.
The Essence of Purim Parashat Hashavua
Adar 7 5781 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
How to Understand Murdering Amalek & Other Mitzvot which Seem "Immoral"?
Every moral & thinking Jew has asked questions about certain mitzvot which don't seem to "jive" with the morality of God & the Torah itself! Rav Kook, as usual, bravely deals with these issues, & explains that "eternity" means that the Torah also had to be relevant to the primitive world in which it was given 3,300 yrs. ago. He differentiates between some actions, like slavery & bigamy, that had to be "allowed" temporarily in the ancient reality, but were never obligated. Nevertheless, 2 obligations (!) which seem "immoral" are regarding Amalek (killing & remembering-Zachor), & conquering the Land of Israel. But upon a closer look, they aren't immoral at all! When we lack prophets & Sanhedrin, the God Who runs History solves many problems!
Amaleck Observing Mitzvot
41 min
Adar 5 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Why Is Purim Filled With So Many "Mems?"
t can't be coincidence that all the Mitzvot of Purim start with a Mem: Megila (reading); Mishloach Manot (that's a double!); Matanot L'evyonim; Mishteh (the Purim Seuda) and Machatzit Ha-Shekel (giving 1/2 shekels in remembrance of the gifts to the Bet HaMikdash). What is going on here?
The Essence of Purim
Adar 3 5781 |
Tu Bisvat
General
Adar 2 5781 | Rabbi Daniel Kirsch
Bottled Up
Yair give Avi Champagne by mistake on Purim. Does Avi have to compensate Yair for the bottle of champagne?
Purim & The Month of Adar
Shvat 25 5781 | Rabbi Michael Linetsky
Happy Birthday
When we are little, nothing excites us more than that long awaited birthday. As we et older, that blissful excitement quietly dwindles.But this is not how we should see such a joyous day!
Amaleck
Shvat 15 5781 | Rabbi Netanel Yossifun
Translated by Hillel Fendel Tu B'Shvat - The Power of Longing
Jonathan Pollard had landed in Israel! First thing he bended down to the ground of the holy Land of Israel – and kissed it. Why was this moment so special?
General
Shvat 13 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
What is Unique About the Fruit of Eretz Yisrael
These fruits create Kedusha within us & enhance our love of Hashem & Israel. Each type of fruit symbolizes a different aspect of the Jewish People.
Tu Bishvat
Shvat 11 5781 | Rabbi S. Yossef Weitzen
Translated by Hillel Fendel Blending the Wisdom of Age With the Energy of Youth
When the Jewish Nation hesitates at important crossroads in history, it may be because we have to relearn how to use our unique national strengths – each of which is suited for a different generation.
Our Role in the Redemption Yom Haatzmaut
Shvat 8 5781 | Rabbi Stewart Weiss
When Was Our Calendar Eternally Fixed?
In our Sedra, Nisan – in deference to it being the month of our liberation from Egypt and our start as a nation - is declared by Hashem to be the first month in the Hebrew year.
The Essence of the Holidays Astronomy and Halachic Times
Shvat 6 5781 | Yaakov Asher Sinclair
Sixteen Seders to Egypt
Exodus sounds far away from us, but is it so?
Bo Additional Lessons
2 min