Why did Esther refuse to go to Achashverosh? - Mar 19, 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 Esther refused to go to Achashverosh - Was she stalling? Was it a religious statement about the need for the Jews to repent first? Was it a concern about endangering her mission?

Halachah in Healthcare Settings 15: Davening for Patients when Hope is Lost - Mar 18, 2024 - A chabura on practical medical halachah, building from the sources toward the conclusions of the Nishmat Avraham. Davening for patients when it seems to be tefillat shav, and davening for patients who are suffering.

Medical Treatment on Shabbat II #17: Concern for Health Beyond Shabbat - Mar 18, 2024 - What happens when medical intervention is needed on Shabbat to forestall danger that will only come about after Shabbat? What if that danger is unpredictable? Examples include: Infection, Mental Health, and sleep apnea.

Why did Achashverosh reject the money? - Mar 18, 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 who Haman thought to pay, why Achashverosh refused the money, and what Achashverosh thought he was agreeing to do.

Fourteen Centuries #14: Rav Sherira Gaon, Part 3 - Mar 17, 2024 - Rav Sherira Gaon explains why Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi was the one to canonize the Mishnah, and how he did it. And we begin to discuss braitot. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Why did Haman keep the lottery results? - Mar 17, 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 Haman kept the results of the lottery, and why we name the holiday for his lottery.

Why Won't Mordechai Bow? Part 2: Sovereignty - Mar 15, 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 refuses to bow to Haman, and examines approaches linking it to our sovereign identity as Jews from Judea, and lessons we can learn from this.

Agunah Awareness Shabbat: Zeresh's Error - Mar 14, 2024 - Derashah for Parshat Pekudei 5784, ORA's Agunah Awareness Shabbat. The importance of supporting our friends and family when they are divorcing, but not contributing to the fight and encouraging it. With a lesson from those who did just that in Megillat Esther.

Why Won't Mordechai Bow? Part 1: Idolatry - Mar 14, 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 refuses to bow to Haman, and examines approaches linking it to idolatry.

Piyutim of the Shabbat Shemoneh Esreih #5: Atah Echad: Bonding at Last! - Mar 13, 2024 - Atah Echad of Musaf - We achieve our personal and national bond with Hashem! The transformation is complete. The "echad" that is Hashem, with the "echad" that is Yisrael, on the "echad" which is Shabbos.