B"H

Monday, 4, Adar 2, 5776 / March 14, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

The holiday of Purim is in 10 days. It begins Wednesday night, March 23 and continues through Thursday March 24.

Purimcelebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history - the miracle of Jewish survival, as recorded in the Megilat Esther. The Megilah is read twice during Purim; In the evening after the Maariv service and during the morning service.  The Megilah, like a Torah, is hand written on parchment by a scribe.

Purim is the only holiday about which a Megilah was written, describing the details of the miracle and mandated to be read on Purim. Esther requested that the Megilah be incorporated into the Holy Scriptures and her reqest was granted.

Q.  Why is the holiday called Purim?

A.“Purim” comes from the word "pur" which means "lots."  The Megilah tells us that, upon receiving permission to annihilate the Jewish people, Haman cast lots for the best day and month in which to execute his plan. When the lot fell on the 13th day of Adar, Haman was very pleased, for he knew that Moshe (Moses) passed away in the month of Adar.

Haman said, "Now I am sure that my plan will succeed for the leader of the Jewish people died in Adar and thus this month must be an unlucky month for the Jews."  But, as our sages tell us, Haman didn't know that Moshe's birth was also in Adar and as a result it turned out to be a good month for the Jewish people and it became the month of Haman's downfall.

Q.  Mordechai and Esther together played a role in the story of Purim, so why is the Megilah called only Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther?

A.Esther was the one who put her life at risk for her people. Esther’s Jewish identity, when she married King Achashveirosh, was not known, so her life was not affected by Haman's decree. Yet, she placed her own life in danger to plead for her people revealing her Jewish identity. Since Esther put her life in danger more than Mordechai, the Megilah was named after her.

Another reason is that Esther was the one who insisted that the story of Purim be recorded and be added to our Holy Scriptures, thus, it was named in her honor, "Megilat Esther."

Q.Why do we read from a Megilah which is folded in layers, rather than rolled like a Torah?"

A.  Esther and Mordechai refer to the Megilah as "Igeret" - "letter". We fold the Megilah to look like a "letter".

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY