One of my favorite lessons is Rabbi Menachem Leibtag’s approach to Megillas Esther which he reads as a satire. The Megillah, a story which every
The name “Esther” is widely interpreted and commented upon. One such interpretation is that it stems from “hester—hidden,” as in “hester panim—when Hashem hides his
וַיִּ֣בֶז בְּעֵינָ֗יו לִשְׁלֹ֤חַ יָד֙ בְּמׇרְדֳּכַ֣י לְבַדּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־הִגִּ֥ידוּ ל֖וֹ אֶת־עַ֣ם מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י וַיְבַקֵּ֣שׁ הָמָ֗ן לְהַשְׁמִ֧יד אֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּכׇל־מַלְכ֥וּת אֲחַשְׁוֵר֖וֹשׁ עַ֥ם מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃ “But it was demeaning in [Haman’s]
At first glance, it seems like the holiday least appropriate for the situation in which we find ourselves—totally incongruent with our mood and state of
As we prepare to celebrate Purim with Washington Habira (the Capital) pulled in opposing political directions, it is worth considering its counterpart in Megillat Esther,
Lewis Grizzard once said: “Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” With a golden sunset on the horizon and the
Some people have a fear of snakes. Some people have a fear of heights. Some people have a fear of dogs. At least those make
Editor’s note: Chana Greenberg’s fifth- grade girls class at RYNJ learns a bit about journalism, as part of their project-based learning project to create a
Some people think that Megillat Esther is a historical record. Some think it is an allegory. Some think it is a satire. Some think it
One would think that everyone must be very serious and low-key in an office that works so diligently to provide many communities with the most
Chai. This morning, on my way to work, I stepped onto the subway next to a young man wearing a Jewish star around his neck.
The journey towards aliyah varies for individuals, from yeshiva gap year students nearing the end of their year, to college graduates and even to young
