Laws and Customs of Purim (From Gateway to Judaism, Mordechai Becher, Mesorah-Artscroll) Purim is preceded by the Fast of Esther on the 13th of the Hebrew month of Adar (usually corresponding to late February or early March). The fast begins at dawn and ends at night. It commemorates the fact that Queen Esther and the Jews of her city fasted before she entered the king’s chambers to ask him for ...
Read MoreRabbi Becher shares some items in his personal artifacts collection and explains how they relate to the Purim story. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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Very soon Jews all over the world will celebrate the festival of Purim. Our Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, and we were exiled to Babylon and Persia (modern day Iraq and Iran). Haman ascended to power under the Persian Empire and was at the peak of his political influence and wealth. As we know, Haman hatched a plot to destroy all the Jewish people, something with ...
Read More"Knock Knock!" Rabbi Becher shows how we learn common courtesy from this week's parsha, including knocking before entering, saying "Please" or "Thank you." Thank you Rabbi Becher for providing these insights to us! View this video directly on Vimeo.
Read MoreHarry Rothenberg asks why did Moses have to give an accounting of all the funds used to build the Mishkan? View this video directly on VIMEO
Read MoreRabbi Becher displays his 20 year old Megillah, and explains how it connects to the events of Purim 2500 years ago. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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As we approach Purim, I cannot resist talking about this beautiful festival. It is one of two festivals of the winter, Chanukah and Purim. While the events of Chanukah were principally a threat to our spiritual survival, Purim recalls a threat to the physical existence of the Jewish people. Haman attempted to physically destroy every Jewish man, woman and child. We celebrate our deliverance from this threat with mitzvot that ...
Read MoreHarry Rothenberg asks "How and why did Moses gather all of the Jews together?" View this video directly on Vimeo
Read MoreRabbi Becher talks about "Getting Rid of Stuff" by not carrying on Shabbos. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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At the end of Genesis and in the book of Exodus, the development of the descendants of Jacob from a family (Genesis) into a nation (Exodus) is documented. I have been asked numerous times is Judaism a religion or a nation? Most classic religions do not only apply to a particular nation. A religion is a system of belief and a system of action, a system of thought and of ethics ...
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