Did Mordechai and Esther have idolatrous names? - Mar 8, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks why Mordechai and Esther seem to have the names of Marduk and Ishtar, Babylonian/Assyrian (not Persian) gods, and explores whether Esther wanted to become queen.

Why did Achashverosh want a new queen? - Mar 7, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks what motivated Achashverosh to seek a new queen - especially if this was four years after Vashti was removed.

Esther Mini-Shiur Part 4: Perek 1:10-15 - Vashti: A Deposed Royal? - Mar 6, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks: how did Chazal determine that Vashti was actually Babylonian royalty, and Achashverosh came from a lowly background?

Makkot 4a-b - Mar 5, 2024 - Understanding the case of the barrel of water (or wine?) that fell into the Mediterranean prior to a person's immersion in that spot. And Ulla's extrapolation from the penalties for מוציא שם רע to the penalties for other issurim.

Esther Mini-Shiur Part 3: Perek 1:1-8 - Who is Achashverosh? - Mar 5, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks: Is Achashverosh of Purim the Achashverosh of Ezra 4 and Daniel 9? And which Achaemenid Persian king was he?

Halachah in Healthcare Settings 13: Davening for Cholim, Part 4 - Mar 4, 2024 - A chabura on practical medical halachah, building from the sources toward the conclusions of the Nishmat Avraham. Issues in the text of our prayers for the sick, and saying Refaeinu outside of the context of shemoneh esreih.

Esther Mini-Shiur Part 2: Perek 1:1-8 - Why the parties? Part 2 - Mar 4, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks why the Megillah spends so much time telling us about Achashverosh's two parties, and sees a midrashic approach: It's to emphasize Jewish life in exile, as Achashverosh celebrates the defeat of the Jews, and the Jews participate at the parties.

Fourteen Centuries #12: Rav Sherira Gaon, Part 1 - Mar 3, 2024 - Who was Rav Sherira Gaon? His ongoing role in Halachah, and starting on his Iggeret. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Esther Mini-Shiur Part 1: Perek 1:1-8 - Why the parties? Part 1 - Mar 3, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks why the Megillah spends so much time telling us about Achashverosh's two parties, and sees the Malbim's approach.

Yehoshua Mini-Shiur Part 109: Perek 24:27-33 - The Conclusion - Mar 1, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Yehoshua, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment revisits the question of who was sent to investigate the altar of Reuven/Gad/Menasheh, and why, and then we learn why they built the altar, and we see the crisis resolved.