Today is the debut of our brand new weekly parsha podcast, Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally. It’s with me, Liel Liebovitz, and Israeli journalist and Torah scholar Sivan Rahav-Meir.

And we start things off by talking about, well, not parsha, but Purim! Sivan tells us all about the story in Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther; explains how this year’s Taanit Esther - Esther’s Fast - takes on new meaning for the families of female hostages; and teaches four Purim commandments for us to do in our own lives.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Thought WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs.

Check out Liel’s new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books.

You can find all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.