Daniel

Found 4 Search results

1. Bears, Culture Wars, and Historical Movement

   Chazal's Preambles to Megillat Esther: Part 5

   Rabbi Moshe Taragin | 28 minutes

   Why does Reish Lakish compare the Persian Empire to a bear? He uses imagery from Daniel's apocalyptic dreams to send a deeper message about Purim within Jewish history. Bnei Yisrael must understand that history can accelerate—there are historical opportunities, though not always maximized. More than a face-off with Haman, the Jews must struggle against a culture and empire which attempts to control without a moral spirit.

2. Daniel and his Companions in the Court of the King of Babylon

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   Daniel and his three companions go into exile in Babylon at the end of Yehoyakim’s reign. The Babylonian attempt to assimilate them by giving them Babylonian names is confronted by their adherence to a pre-Halakhik decree to abstain from Babylonian food – even if technically permissible. Their challenge is compared to Yoseph’s challenge. While in a foreign land, he fought assimilation by refusing the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. Taking part in food and wine of the gentiles - like in the instance of Ba’al Pe’or or in the instance of Ahashverosh’s party - led to disastrous results. If eating the food was indeed not permissible, the improved health of the four boys might be explained as a spiritual result of their abstention.

3. Nevukhadnetzar's Second Dream

   Part 1

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   Nevukhadnetzar’s second dream seems easy to interpret. The special skill needed by Daniel, that Nevukhadnetzar’s other servants lacked, was the courage to say the harsh message to the king. Nevukhadnetzar’s arrogance demanded humiliation. The legitimacy and correctness of Daniel’s advice to him to give charity is questionable. Twelve months later, once the charity ceases and Nevukhadnetzar’s arrogance is still in place, as is seen by his rooftop statement, the punishment is carried out. His rooftop show of arrogance raises an association to David’s rooftop arrogance prior to his sin with Bat Sheva.

4. He Who Answered Hananya, Mishael and Azarya - He Who Answered Daniel

   HaTanakh.com Staff