Esther - Historical Background

Found 4 Search results

1. The Historical Context of Megillat Esther

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman and Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss

   The historical context of the story is investigated and reveals a tension between the Jews who returned to Eretz Yisrael and the Jews who stayed in Shushan.

2. Megillat Esther - Questions for Self Study

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   These self-study questions will prepare you for this series of lessons about Megillat Esther. The qustions deal with the historical background of Megillat Esther and the relationship between Megillat Esther and Sefer Zekharya.

3. Megillat Esther and Sefer Zekharya

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   

   According to the chronology posited by Seder Olam, Ahashveyrosh was the king immediately after Cyrus but before Darius, and the story of Megillat Esther immediately led to the building of the second Beit HaMikdash and a mass Aliya. However, according to the common historical approach Ahashverosh was the king who succeeded Darius. The Beit HaMikdash was already built and two decades pass before any new Aliya movement. In fact, no major event takes place immediately after the events in Megillat Esther. However, parallels between Megillat Esther and the prophecies of Zekharya imply that the initiators of the holiday of Purim understood that the ultimate success of the Return to Zion and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash depended on the implementation of social Mitzvot. 

4. Overview of Megillat Esther

   Gina Junger | Hour and 40 minutes

   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.