The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath)
- Chanukah
- Other Holidays and Fasts
- Passover
- Purim
- Rosh HaShanah
- Shavuos
- Sukkos
- The Jewish Calendar
- The Sabbath
- Yom Kippur
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The Fate of Queen Vashti
Was Vashti banished or was she murdered? Answer: The book of Esther (1:19) only says that Vashti should “no longer come in to the king”, which might mean being banished or whatever. Our sages explain, though (see Rashi on that…
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Fasting and Hearing the Book of Esther
I will be traveling home from a business trip Thursday afternoon (which I know is a fast day — Taanis Esther), and hope to hear Megillas Esther at the proper time (right at nightfall, when the fast is over). If…
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Funeral on Purim
Can you do a funeral on Purim? Answer: According to the Talmud in tractate megilla, not only must one perform a funeral on Purim, but it even takes precedence over reading the Megillas Esther (or hearing it). However, eulogies are…
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Historical Evidence for the Purim Story and Queen Esther
Is there any historical evidence of the story of Purim and Queen Esther? Answer: In the high mountains of Iran is a city called Hamadan. Notice that if you remove a “da” from Hamadan, you get “Haman.” I don’t know…
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Reading the book of Esther Twice on Purim
Why is megillas Esther read twice? Answer: The Talmud in Tractate Megilla 4a states, in the name of Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, that we read megillas Esther both by day and night. Rashi ad locum comments that the reason for…
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Matanot La’evyonim – Giving to the Poor on Purim
My question is about giving to the poor on Purim. Now, I am fairly poor myself, and my family is having hard times as it is. Would it be appropriate to donate an item like food, clothing, or something else…
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Fragrances After the Sabbath
What is so special about besamim [spices] that they are used for havdalah? The Shulchan Aruch writes that it was ordained to recite a blessing on spices after the Sabbath as part of havdalah. We will explore 3 reasons below:…
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Sabbath Rituals
Where did the Friday night custom of saying blessings over candles, wine, and challah come from? Why did these three specific blessings become a ritual? Let’s begin with the most primary source – the fourth of the ten commandments: “Remember…
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The Linguistic Root of Holiness
In your post entitled Marriage Ceremony, I was rather surprised by the following line: “The Torah requires that when a man wishes to marry, he must first sanctify the woman to himself in front of two witnesses: the ceremony called…