Mordekhai and Esther

נמצאו 8 תוצאות חיפוש

  1. Presentation of Mordekhai and Esther in Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    The midrash links the expositions introducing Mordekhai and Moshe, and Shaul and David. The text demonstrates that Mordekhai was chosen by God to save Am Yisreal. This article discusses the reason Esther is told to hide her identity, and whether Esther wanted to become queen.

  2. What Happened to Hatakh?

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    Mordekhai rent his clothing and cried a great and bitter cry. Mordekhai's cry is compared with Esav's, and the significance of renting one's clothing is discussed. Esther responds to her uncle's actions by sending him new clothing - confirming her distance from Mordekhai's cause. The gap between Mordekhai and Esther is expressed by the character of the messenger, Hatakh. Throughout the dialogue, Hatakh suddenly disappears. What is the significance of his disappearance?

  3. Who is the Protagonist of Esther?

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    The beginning of the Book of Esther presents Mordekhai as the protagonist of the story, but later Esther is the character that drives the plot. By the end of the book, they are parallel protagonists. King Ahashverosh is the Antihero, who pushes us to find the hidden protagonist - the King of Kings.

  4. Mordechai and Esther

    Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein | שעה ו- 8 דקות

    What makes Purim a special yom tov and why is it a day of festivity and celebration? Why is Purim unique as opposed to other days of Jewish salvation? Why is the megilla called Megillat Esther and not Megillat Mordechai? A close examination of the Purim story within its historical context provides answers to these questions, by understanding Purim as a celebration of the renewal of the covenant between Israel and God. 

  5. Overview of Megillat Esther

    Gina Junger | שעה ו- 40 דקות

    Who is the author of Megillat Esther? What is the purpose of the Megilla, and why was it included in the Tanakh? This lecture places Megillat Esther within historical context and presents an overview of the structure and story. Through a close exploration of the text we notice a subtle but important message to the Jews living in Persia, and note its relevance throughout history and in present times as well. 

  6. Megillat Esther: Establishing Purim as a Holiday

    Erev Shabbat Excerpts - Pekudei

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 17 דקות

    We delve into the end of Megillat Esther and examine the tension in establishing Purim as a holiday. What does it mean that Mordekhai is accepted by "most of" his brethren? What is happening when Mordekhai and Esther repeatedly send out the "letters of Purim?" How does Purim fit in with the prohibition to add to the Torah?  What is going on with the Jewish people when Purim is first established, and how does that affect their reaction to Mordekhai and Esther?

  7. Rivka & Esther: Mirror Images

    Vivien Hidary

    תאריך פרסום: 5777 | | שעה ו- 7 דקות

    The genre for Megillat Esther seems to be cryptology -  the message is encrypted, because otherwise it would have been censored by the ruling powers in the Persian Empire. To decipher the message, we need the codebook, and for us - the codebook is the Torah.

    Our focus in this shiur is on Esther and Rivka, two women who had to take action for the sake of the nation. But our study of Esther will bring us to far-reaching comparisons with other women (and men) in Tanakh, as we pay careful attention to the wording, leitmotif (milah manha), and other tools that offer hints at a hidden message about an enduring struggle. 

  8. The Mystery of the Disappearing Servant: On the Pivotal Dialogue between Mordekhai and Esther

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    In chapter 4 of Megillat Esther, we leave the Persian setting of the Megilla and encounter the "Jewish dialogue" between Mordekhai and Esther. Through an analysis of Hatakh’s significance within the narrative, we notice that this dialogue represents a turning point in the story of the Megilla, in which Esther undergoes a process. At the beginning, the narrator hints at some criticism of Esther for a degree of assimilation within the palace norms; at the end, the "Hadassa" who is hidden inside Queen Esther – her Jewish identity – has come to the fore, expressing self-sacrifice for the sake of her nation.