The stories of Moshe, Eliyahu and Esther reiterate the role of humanity to take responsibility, and for leaders to stay connected to their people.
The battle between Haman and Mordechai is the primeval, age-old battle between Amalek and Torah, between lust and morality, over which is the foundation of the world, and it began in the Garden of Eden.
A primer for observing the joyous holiday, keeping its four commandments and those that are connected to it, including the amazing rules on what to do in Jerusalem when Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat as it does this year.
Interview with a rabbi who studied with him for twelve years: "HaRav Tzvi Yehuda vehemently maintained that no handful of Israeli soil, however small, is allowed to be transferred to foreign control."
Why did Esther not cease hostilities, or in the unforgettable words of former President Joe Biden, “take the win,” after the first day of fighting the enemies of the Jews?
This has been a year of masks: We saw organizations claiming to fight for "human rights" reveal their true faces—showing that they don’t actually care about Jews. We saw women’s rights organizations put on masks and ignore Jewish victims of rape and torture.
Haman's sons would have to have been genuine converts to Judaism in that case. However, we (the Jewish People) do not accept Amalekite converts. Therein lies the paradox explained here by Rav Hutner.
This week Kitah students learned about the struggle between Mordechai and Haman, trying to understand why Mordechai refused to bow down. And they talked about what the miracle teaches us.
Hashem wants mature, robust adults serving Him.
The most critical lesson of Purim that our generation can take from the story of Esther is the need for Jewish Unity, above all else.
Considering Mordechai's central role, it is surprising that the Megillah is named after Esther. Should it not be named after Mordechai?
Thus, the war against Haman was a missed opportunity for national Redemption—a lesson from history that resonates profoundly in our own times.
Imagine the scale of how these two women changed the course of humanity for the good. Imagine what you can do as a mother or a daughter today to change the course of history.
For many, including our politicians and leaders, with the passage of time, the priority of destroying Hamas seems to have become weaker. Parshat Zachor commands us not to let that happen.
The oil is a metaphor for the human intellect. The mind also needs guidance; not every intellectual pursuit leads to ethical and spiritual growth. And what about the spiritual growth of the nation?
It is intriguing that the Torah, usually so concise and sparing with its words, enjoins us both to remember Amalek and not to forget Amalek. But surely the one implies the other!
If October 7 didn't wake you up, what will?
In the face of such evil – to attack the weak and those free of sin without reason and with baseless cruelty, which reminds us of the unlimited Nazi-Hamas hatred – there is only one possible response.
The instrument of speech is a priceless gift to our people to serve Hashem, more so than any of our other organs. The robe was designed to remind us of that.
When we get dressed, we feel awake. When we dress like a professional, we behave professionally. When we dress casually, we behave casually. The same is true for good deeds, the garments of our souls. When we fill our days with good deeds, we create a mindset of goodness.
The kohen’s avnet represents the life we should all live.
Tens of thousands lined the roads in collective mourning for the Bibas family, displaying unparalleled national solidarity—except for the conspicuous absence of one large group.
The reason offered here for the High Priest's special garments connects with an added dvar Torah about choosing a king before erasing Amalek.
Most Buddhists in the Indian subcontinent also worship Buddha statues, which classifies them as non-monotheisic idolators. However, Buddhism itself primarily focuses on calming human desires and achieving a life of tranquility rather than addressing God.
Behavior common in politics stands in stark contrast to the example set by Moshe and the Levites.
Hashem’s revelation of His intimate relationship with the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya’akov was identical to the process of sanctifying Aharon and his sons as Kohanim.
While terrorists are paid to kill, literally, those concerned about the spiritual awakening of our people feel threatened and are trying to stop the inevitable increased adherence to our authentic Jewish way of life!
For the last two thousand years antisemitism or hatred of the Jewish People has come from two main directions, Christianity and Islam.
Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections to Eretz Yisrael in the parasha and othr sources of Judaic knowledge
Was the tachash, whose hides covered the Tabernacle, a kosher animal? Does it matter?
A half which completes and is completed by the other achieves a far deeper level of “wholeness” than ever before.
A father plants saplings 210 years early, offering solace to his children.
The Sages taught that a person receives more reward for the joy with which he does the mitzvah than for the mitzvah itself.
The confluence of Parashat Terumah, Rosh Chodesh Adar, and Parashat Shekalim is rare. What is its message this year?
Our hope is that with the beginning of this month of Adar, our joy will not only grow throughout this month but continue to increase as we move forward.
The question of the Temple is present in the conscious of the children of the forefathers since Abraham, who called it “mountain”, and Isaac who called it “field”, and Jacob who called it “house.”
Israel must not stoop to the level of its evil foes, but the regret at eliminating a killer shark does not mean allowing it to survive and roam freely on a public beach, unchecked and free to pursue its bloodthirsty instincts.
There are very many religious and Torah educated officers in Tzahal, but there is a glass ceiling covering the general staff that leaves no room for Torah-oriented generals. That must change now.
In our generation, and those immediately prior, we can note similarities to the Purim story
The Mashiach will not only defeat the wicked nations of the earth, Israel’s enemies; but will also guide humanity to genuine understanding and recognition of truth.
Thinking and acting must always go together.
The topic of funds is addressed in this week’s portion, Terumah, as well as in the special maftir reading for Shabbat Shekalim, and in the Haftarah. From these, we learn that there is more than one way to give.
A collection of commentaries on our Sages' question: ’’THEY shall make an Ark’’- in plural, unlike the other utensils, which they are also commanded to make, but where the command is in the singular: ‘YOU shall make..’ - why?
The final teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on this Parashah four weeks before he suffered the stroke from which he did not recover.
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.
The Torah educates us to see the circles of responsibility in an abstract way, not just concern for the here and now but the larger picture that includes the future.
The Jewish People found in both Rav Hutner and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Godly agents to help the world be a better place. A comparison of two giants.
The halakha calls for the total destruction of Gaza and its cities, and for attempting to rescue the hostages in battle.
Traveling to Kenya to conduct a ritual circumcision, Rabbi Hayim Leiter discovers Nairobi's Jewish community, fears for its future after local rabbi concludes his term.
The words of our Matriarch Leah resonate so clearly, when we look at the Bibas tragedy and the laws concerning an enemy's donkey according to the Torah.
One could easily argue that antisemitism has been elevated to a “religious” belief, in both the Christian and Islamic world, let alone the Progressive cult.
Are we to be numbered with the weak majority or the stalwart minority?
Young religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the week's Torah reading to the Land of Israel.
The Torah does not want us to judge people based on how we feel about them.
Several weeks ago, Aruz Sheva ceased posting weekly Parasha articles by David Schwartz Hy"d. They had been translated from the book of Divrei Torah published for his wedding to Meital שתיבל"א and sadly, there are no more. David Hy"d is certainly learning Torah with the other tsaddikim in Gan Eden...
Jewish law offers two ways to resolve disputes. The first is through rigorous analysis — and if that fails, a rabbinic majority.
The law for which the Torah itself created a fence. As for lies, lies and damned lies. one cannot help thinking of the coffin that did not contain Shiri Bibas' body, this the day before we read the prohibition against lying in the Torah.
Just as in Yehoshua’s time not all the inhabitants were driven out and the verse "Little by little I will drive them out" was fulfilled, so too in our days, this will occur to the hostile foreign presence that remains in our Land.
When your inner thief steals your dignity, make sure he pays you double.
