DIGGING DEEPER INTO MEGILLAT ESTHER
Purim: Mocking Persia’s Dat and Reaccepting the Torah: Rachel Friedman, The Torah.com, Mar. 3, 2023 — The book of Esther centers on the action and intrigue at the royal court of King Ahasuerus in the Persian capital of Shushan (Susa), repeatedly calling attention to its silliness and eccentricities.[1] Nowhere does the Persian court appear more ridiculous than in its use of the דָּת (dat)—a Persian loanword denoting a decree, edict, or commission—to create rules and legalisms that center on frivolity, whim, and individual excess.[2] The opening feast follows the dat that there is no restriction on drinking.
The Mysterious Connection Between the Books of Leviticus & Esther: Rabbi David Fohrman, Aleph Beta — The Book of Esther is filled with many biblical echoes that deepen and enrich our understanding of what really happened in Shushan. Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Rabbanit Shani Taragin as they trace the Book of Esther back to the dedication of the Tabernacle in the Book of Leviticus, and enter Purim.
Hath Not a Jew Costumes?: Meir Y. Soloveitchik, Commentary Magazine, March 2020
The New Hamans: Rokhl Kafrissen, Tablet, Feb. 28, 2023
Queen Esther, a Hero for Our Time: Meir Soloveitchik, NY Times, Mar. 8, 2020
A Literary Analysis of the Book of Esther, Based on Midrashic Comments and Psychological Profiling : Rabbi Ari Kahn, Orthodox Union, Mar. 20, 2019
In Time for Purim: Inscription Bearing Name of King Ahasuerus’s Father Found In Israel: Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News, Mar. 1, 2023 — In an archaeological first, the name of King Darius the Great, father of King Ahasuerus of Purim holiday fame, has been discovered in Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Wednesday.
Podcast: Ronna Burger on Reading Esther as a Philosopher: Ronna Burger and Tikvah Podcast at Mosaic, Mosaic, Mar. 11, 2022 — Next week, when Jews celebrate the holiday of Purim, they’ll also study the book of Esther, named for the young queen whose Jewish identity was unknown to her husband—Persia’s king—and his court.
The Romans Tried to Ban Wild Purim Parties In 408 CE – For a Very Good Reason: Henry Abramson, JTA, Mar. 12, 2019 — Every year before Purim, my inbox and social media fill up with dire exhortations from rabbis and yeshivas warning against the dangers of celebratory excess – as if drunkenness on the holiday were something new.
What to Know About Purim 2023: Yoram Ettinger, Algemeiner, Mar. 3, 2023 — Purim is set to begin on Monday evening. Below are some facts and stories you might know about the holiday, outside of reading the Megillah and dressing up.