Podcasts about megillat esther

Our learning today is dedicated in honor of the State of Israel celebrating 77 years of independence. We continue to pray for the safe and speedy return of our hostages, for the safety of our soldiers, and for a refuah shleima for all the injured soldiers.  We also dedicate our learning to the speedy extinguishing of the terrible fires blazing in Israel and to the safety of the firefighters.  How were the lashes administered? Why? What situations would provide enough embarrassment for the one getting the lashes that even if some of the lashes were given or in some cases, even if none were yet administered, one would already have fulfilled receiving the punishment? Why was the whip made from a calf and a donkey? Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel holds that one who is obligated to receive karet and then receives lashes for that sin, the lashes atone for the sin and the person will no longer receive karet. According to Rabbi Yochanan, the rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Chanina. Rav Ada proves this from a Mishna in Megilla. However, Rav Nachman and Rav Ashi reject the proof, each in a different way. The Mishna brings various statements regarding the value of observing mitzvot. When Rav Ada bar Ahava ruled like Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel, Rav Yosef asked rhetorically if he had gone up to the heavens and seen that those who received lashes did not receive karet? Abaye responded that Rabbi Chanina derived it from a verse, just as in a statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi that there are three things the rabbis did that the heavens approved of - the obligation to read Megillat Esther, greeting a friend using the name of God, and bringing the tithes to the Temple to be distributed. Rabbi Elazar said that there are three instances where the Divine Spirit appeared in a court to intervene - with Yehuda, Shmuel, and Shlomo, as can be proven from verses in the Tanach. Rava rejects the proof from the verses, but says this was learned by a tradition. 

Our learning today is dedicated in honor of the State of Israel celebrating 77 years of independence. We continue to pray for the safe and speedy return of our hostages, for the safety of our soldiers, and for a refuah shleima for all the injured soldiers.  We also dedicate our learning to the speedy extinguishing of the terrible fires blazing in Israel and to the safety of the firefighters.  How were the lashes administered? Why? What situations would provide enough embarrassment for the one getting the lashes that even if some of the lashes were given or in some cases, even if none were yet administered, one would already have fulfilled receiving the punishment? Why was the whip made from a calf and a donkey? Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel holds that one who is obligated to receive karet and then receives lashes for that sin, the lashes atone for the sin and the person will no longer receive karet. According to Rabbi Yochanan, the rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Chanina. Rav Ada proves this from a Mishna in Megilla. However, Rav Nachman and Rav Ashi reject the proof, each in a different way. The Mishna brings various statements regarding the value of observing mitzvot. When Rav Ada bar Ahava ruled like Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel, Rav Yosef asked rhetorically if he had gone up to the heavens and seen that those who received lashes did not receive karet? Abaye responded that Rabbi Chanina derived it from a verse, just as in a statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi that there are three things the rabbis did that the heavens approved of - the obligation to read Megillat Esther, greeting a friend using the name of God, and bringing the tithes to the Temple to be distributed. Rabbi Elazar said that there are three instances where the Divine Spirit appeared in a court to intervene - with Yehuda, Shmuel, and Shlomo, as can be proven from verses in the Tanach. Rava rejects the proof from the verses, but says this was learned by a tradition. 

Bonus episode, President Yitzchak Herzog on Megillat Esther!

Send us a textWhat ancient enemy understood our modern challenge better than we do? "Pizur HaNefesh" – the scattering of the soul – lurks in our pockets, ready to pounce on any Jew seeking spiritual growth. This powerful teaching, passed down through generations of Torah scholars, identifies our smartphones as perhaps the greatest threat to Jewish spiritual focus today.When we carry devices that fragment our attention across countless digital distractions, we become "everywhere and somehow nowhere." This scattered consciousness makes genuine prayer impossible, Torah study superficial, and prevents us from being fully present with our children and families. For Jewish youth especially, how can one discover their authentic self when endless digital alternatives compete for their attention at every moment?Most striking is how this modern struggle was prophetically described in Megillat Esther. When Haman describes the Jews as "mefuzar u'mefurad" (scattered and dispersed), he inadvertently offers us profound insight into our current condition. When we know more about designer brands and sports teams than books of Tanakh, we must confront this uncomfortable truth. The solution requires courage – delete unnecessary apps, reduce screen time, and consciously redirect our attention toward what truly matters: family, prayer, mitzvot, and spiritual growth. By fighting Pizur HaNefesh, we reclaim our souls from the predator of distraction and strengthen our authentic connection to God and tradition. Take a moment today to examine what's scattering your soul, and make the changes needed to refocus on what truly matters.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!Elevate your impact by becoming a TMC Emerald Donor! Your much-needed backing is crucial for our mission of disseminating the wisdom of the Torah. Join today for just $18.00 per month. (Use your maaser money!) https://buy.stripe.com/00g8xl5IT8dFcKc5ky---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Unlocking the Purim Puzzle: A High School Treasure Hunt Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-03-18-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: הקול פעמוני הפורים זימר מסדרון התיכון.En: The sound of Purim bells echoed through the high school corridor.He: תלמידים לבושים בתחפושות צבעוניות מילאו את הקומה.En: Students dressed in colorful costumes filled the floor.He: כולם עסוקים בריקודים וצחוקים, כשברקע פעלו דוכנים עם רעשנים וחטיפים.En: Everyone was busy dancing and laughing, with booths offering noise-makers and snacks in the background.He: התאורה הייתה כה בהירה כמעט כמו השמש האביבית שבחוץ.En: The lighting was almost as bright as the spring sun outside.He: אך במסדרון צדדי, הרחק מההמולה, הופיע אתגר חדש.En: Yet, in a side corridor, far from the commotion, a new challenge appeared.He: אבי, בחור שקט ואוהב חידות, מצא את עצמו ליד כיתה נעולה.En: Avi, a quiet guy who loved puzzles, found himself next to a locked classroom.He: על הרצפה היה נייר מקופל.En: On the floor was a folded paper.He: הוא התכופף והרימו.En: He bent over and picked it up.He: על הדף היה כתוב בכתב יד מעורר סקרנות: "האוצר האמיתי נמצא בתוך המשחק הפורימי.En: On the page, written in curiosity-inducing handwriting, it said: "The true treasure is found within the Purim game."He: " אבי הרגיש שזה יותר ממקרה.En: Avi felt this was more than a coincidence.He: הוא ידע שצריך לפעול.En: He knew he needed to act.He: אבל איך יצליח להיכנס לכיתה הנעולה?En: But how would he manage to get into the locked classroom?He: אבי חשב להזעיק את חבריו, טלי ומשה.En: Avi thought of calling his friends, Tali and Moshe.He: טלי הייתה מלאת אנרגיה וידעה לשכנע אנשים לעזור, ומשה היה חריף וכריזמטי, מה שהפך אותם לשלישייה חזקה.En: Tali was full of energy and knew how to persuade people to help, while Moshe was sharp and charismatic, making them a strong trio.He: "היי, אתם חייבים לבוא איתי!En: "Hey, you have to come with me!"He: " אמר אבי, כשהוא מוצא אותם מחופשים בקפיטריה.En: said Avi, finding them dressed up in the cafeteria.He: טלי התחפשה לפייה נוצצת, ומשה לסופרמן.En: Tali was dressed as a sparkling fairy, and Moshe as Superman.He: הם פקפקו: "באמת?En: They were skeptical: "Really?He: למצוא רמזים בכיתה נעולה?En: Finding clues in a locked classroom?"He: " צחק משה.En: laughed Moshe.He: "כן, תחשבו על זה כמו על מבחן חפר כייפי לפורים!En: "Yes, think of it as a fun Purim treasure hunt!"He: " אבי ניסה לשכנע.En: Avi tried to persuade.He: לאחר כמה דקות, טלי צחקה: "בסדר, בוא נלך לראות מה זה.En: After a few minutes, Tali laughed: "Okay, let's go see what it's about."He: "שלושתם עמדו מול הכיתה הנעולה.En: All three stood in front of the locked classroom.He: טלי דיברה עם שומר בית ספר, הוא נכנע ליחסי אנוש שלה ופתח את הדלת עבורם.En: Tali spoke with a school guard, who succumbed to her people skills and opened the door for them.He: בפנים, הכיתה הייתה מקושטת בריחות של פורים: מסכות, קונפטי, ומגילת אסתר גדולה על הקיר.En: Inside, the classroom was decorated with Purim scents: masks, confetti, and a large Megillat Esther on the wall.He: על השולחן נמצא שרוך גדול קשור לעצם מסתורי.En: On the table was a large cord tied to a mysterious object.He: אבי התקרב ובדק את השרוך: "אלה רמזים מהמשחק של פורימונית!En: Avi approached and examined the cord: "These are clues from the Purimonit game!"He: " אמר בשמחה.En: he said joyfully.He: "המשחק הזה מובל לארון התרבות בבית הספר!En: "This game leads to the cultural cabinet in the school!"He: "הקבוצה המשיכה, והשעה התקרבה לערב.En: The team continued, and the hour approached evening.He: בחדר היו מוצגים תרבותיים יהודיים, במרכזים שיח גשמי של מגילה ייחודית - ספרי תורה זעירים שהיו מתחתית הכנף של חייהם בבית הספר.En: The room was filled with Jewish cultural displays, centered around a unique scroll discussion—a series of tiny Torah books that were central to their school life.He: הפיצוץ התרבותי העניק לאבי תחושת נצחון חש החלום.En: This cultural explosion gave Avi a sense of victory and fulfilled the dream.He: "מצאנו את זה בזכותכם!En: "We found it thanks to you!"He: " הוא בירך, חיוך רחב על פניו.En: he exclaimed, a broad smile on his face.He: משה וטלי חייכו אל אבי.En: Moshe and Tali smiled back at Avi.He: בסיום הסיפור, אבי לא רק מצא מסתורין של פורים, אלא גם גילה את כוחו ועמידתו הקבוצתית.En: At the story's end, Avi not only uncovered the Purim mystery but also discovered his strength and team cohesion.He: הוא הרגיש יותר קרבה לחבריו ולמהות התרבות שלו.En: He felt a closer connection to his friends and the essence of his culture.He: הם סיימו את היום בידידות נוספת ובכבוד משותף לדרך המסורתית שבה התקדמו יחד.En: They ended the day with an added friendship and shared respect for the traditional path they navigated together. Vocabulary Words:echoed: זימרcorridor: מסדרוןcostumes: תחפושותcommotion: ההמולהcoincidence: מקרהpersuade: לשכנעskeptical: פקפקוtreasure: אוצרtrio: שלישייהmysterious: מסתוריcharismatic: כריזמטיguard: שומרconcealed: מוסתרcord: שרוךculminated: התפרץscent: ריחותecho: הדobstacle: מכשולconvey: לשדרfulfillment: הגשמהpuzzle: חידהcultural: תרבותיcelebration: חגיגהconnection: קרבהvalue: ערךchallenge: אתגרdiscussion: דיוןexplosion: התפוצצותvictory: נצחוןperspective: פרספקטיבהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Celebrating Purim  Part  5:  Our Purim Service  -  English and Spanish.  Join us for our Purim celebration as we introduce the reading of Megillat Esther.  Reading the scroll is a beautiful Purim tradition! Recorded March 13, 2025. Celebrando Purim  Parte 5:  Nuestro Servicio de Purim - Inglés y Español.  Acompáñenos en nuestra celebración de Purim mientras presentamos la lectura de la Meguilat Ester.  La lectura del rollo es una hermosa tradición de Purim. Grabado el 13 de marzo de 2025.

Parashat Ki Tissa [Exodus 30:11-34:35] is perhaps best known for the episode of the Golden Calf and the repairs entailed by that grievous sin. Our conversation focused on the לוחות, generally understood as the stone tablets on which were incised the Ten Commandments. We discussed the significance of the material, stone, as compared with papyrus in Egypt and parchment in Israel; the stone seems to reflect the Babylonian preference for clay tablets. What did these tablets look like? Did they, or how did they, function in ancient Israelite society? We also took some time to discuss an aspect of Megillat Esther, since Purim is Thursday night and Friday [March 13-14]. In particular, the last verse of chapter 8, where it is recorded “And many of the people of the land professed to be Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.” What does it mean to be מתיהדים, [mityahadim, in which one can see the root yehudi (Jew)], “to profess to be Jews”? We remain ever mindful of the remaining hostages, dead and alive, in Gaza, and the moral and spiritual imperative to bring them home to their families, as well as of the soldiers who defend Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom.

B"H earing costumes on Purim isn't just for fun—it's a reminder that in this world, we're all ‘dressing up.' Hashem sees beyond appearances and looks at the heart. Just like in Megillat Esther, where Hashem's hand is hidden but guiding everything, Purim teaches us to recognize His presence in our lives. It's a day for heartfelt tefillah, to see His revealed goodness and miracles. To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

Send us a textBehind the colorful masks of Purim lies a profound paradox that challenges our perception of reality itself. The Megillat Esther—absent of God's name—invites us to peer beyond coincidence into divine orchestration.What appears as a tabloid-worthy tale of drunken kings, palace intrigue, and political machinations reveals itself as something far more significant upon closer examination. As the Vilna Gaon teaches, this conspicuous absence of God's name mirrors our daily experience, where the divine hand remains hidden behind what we mistakenly call "natural causes" or "lucky coincidences." The story of Esther could easily be dismissed as fortunate timing—Mordechai overhearing a plot, Esther finding royal favor, Haman being caught at precisely the wrong moment—yet the Megillah challenges us to see beyond these surface appearances.This revelation proves so essential that it supersedes almost all other mitzvot. Even a Kohen about to offer the Ketores must pause to hear this story. Even the most distinguished Torah scholar teaching thousands must interrupt their sacred work. Why? Because no matter how deep in galut we find ourselves, no matter how absent God may seem from our circumstances, we are never truly lost. The masks we wear on Purim symbolize this concealment, while the wine helps us transcend our limited perceptions to recognize the supernatural orchestration behind natural events. Take a deep breath, shake yourself awake, and realize that it's always Hashem directing everything to its eternal and perfect outcome. This Purim, look beyond the masks to discover the divine storyline writing itself through your own life.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!Elevate your impact by becoming a TMC Emerald Donor! Your much-needed backing is crucial for our mission of disseminating the wisdom of the Torah. Join today for just $18.00 per month. (Use your maaser money!) https://buy.stripe.com/00g8xl5IT8dFcKc5ky---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Celebrating Purim  Part  4:  Chanting Megillat Esther.  At the Festival Of Purim, the Book of Esther is traditionally chanted. Join as as we experience a taste of this beautiful tradition!  Originally posted February 24, 2021.

Happy Purim! In this special bonus episode, you'll hear our thoughts on Megillat Esther, the scroll that we read each year on Purim. It's nice to have a holiday with a heroine, using her feminine wiles to save our people.Have a joyous, festive Purim, even in these troubling times!

Hi Everybody!Purim is almost here. According to the 929 schedule we will be reading Megillat Esther in just a few weeks,which is unfortunatley too late for Purim itself. Since it's so close, we wanted to give you the episodes a few weeks ahead of time, though we will publish them again on the 929 schedule.Trying something new for this one, and combining chapters 1-5, and generated the track titles and subtitles with AI.ChaptersChapters00:00 Introduction to Esther and Vashti's Role (Ch.1 by Rabbi Joe Wolfson)02:50 Vashti: The Objectification and Rebellion05:49 Comparative Analysis: Vashti and Yosef's Refusal09:04 Midrash Perspectives on Vashti and Feminism09:27 Ch.2 by Calev Ben Dor | The Rise of Esther: A New Queen Emerges12:28 Historical Context: The Persian Empire and Jewish Exile15:38 The Four-Year Gap: War Preparations and Political Intrigue18:36 Mordechai and Haman: A Complex Relationship20:39 The Rise of Haman and Mordechai's Defiance (Chs. 3-5 by Rabbi Professor Sam Lebens))26:41 The Hidden Hand of God in Esther31:35 Esther's Strategy and Haman's Downfall36:32 Ch.4 by Aliza Libman Baronofsky39:28 Esther's Role and Agency 42:18 The Significance of Voice and Silence43:42 Ch. 5 by Ilana Stein | Esther's Transformation and Royal Approach46:53 The Significance of Clothing and Inner Strength49:44 Spiritual Preparation and Divine ConnectionLet us know if you liked this or not! The authors of these audio clips are as follows:Esther Ch. 1: Rabbi Joe WolfsonIn my recording on chapter 1, I consider the character of Vashti - a heroine according the the _peshat_ straightforward reading of the text but a villain according to the midrash.Esther Ch. 2: Calev Ben Dor:Calev Ben Dor, on chapter 2, provides historical context to the book of Esther and an intriguing explanation of the backstory of tensions between Mordechai and Haman.Esther Chs 3-5: Rabbi Professor Sam LebensSam Lebens unpacks the nature of Mordechai's antipathy to HamanEsther Ch. 4: Aliza Libman BaronofskyAliza Libman Baronofsky considers what sort of feminist hero Esther is and what we can learn from her about women's voicesEsther Ch. 5: Ilana Stein Ilana Stein considers the heroism of Esther through the prism of her clothing and the significance of learning Esther before Yom Kippur.Happy Purim!

Hi Everybody!Purim is almost here. According to the 929 schedule we will be reading Megillat Esther in just a few weeks,which is unfortunatley too late for Purim itself. Since it's so close, we wanted to give you the episodes a few weeks ahead of time, though we will publish them again on the 929 schedule.Trying something new for this one, and combining chapters 6-10.Let us know if you liked this or not! Happy Purim! Timestamps:00:00 Esther Ch.6-7 Rafi Addlestone brings us his overview of the text inspired by Disney fairytales and Malcolm Gladwell.03:05 Aladdin and Esther: Parallels in Storytelling05:51 Esther's Empowerment and the Role of Women in Fairy Tales08:46 Modern Fairy Tales: Empowered Heroines in Disney11:10 Conclusion: The Legacy of Esther and Modern Narratives11:59 The Legal Right to Defend: A Turning Point in Esther (Esther Ch. 8 by Rabbi Sam Lebens)17:48 Yom Kippur and Purim: Themes of Decrees and Transformation25:11 Calev Ben Dor explores the connections between the Jews of Purim and those at Sinai in explaining the nature of Jewish identity and obligation. (Ch. 9)28:10 The Significance of Jewish Celebration32:04 Understanding Mitzvot and Community Obligation35:16 Introduction to Chapter 10 of Esther (Esther Ch.10 pt 1 by Rabbi Joe Wolfson)36:15 The Dual Conclusions of Esther38:19 Achashverosh: From Buffoon to Hero?41:16 The Moral Transformation of Achashverosh43:42 Parallels Between Esther and Yosef (Rabbi Joe Esther Ch.10 part 2)46:41 Leadership in Exile: B'nai Rachel vs. B'nai Leah49:34 The Temporary Nature of Political Success52:44 Linking Esther to the Book of Shemot

The Torah portion Ki Tisa, which tells the story of the golden calf and the aftermath of the Israelites' disobedience, can be explored through the lens of the Megillat Esther, highlighting themes of repentance, leadership, divine intervention but more so, how the Jewish people are when God and leadership is invisible. In Ki Tisa, after the Israelites fall into idolatry, Moses' leadership is put to the test. His passionate plea for the people's forgiveness, and his willingness to risk his own life for their redemption, mirrors Esther's selfless courage in saving the Jewish people in Persia. Both Moses and Esther step into roles of immense responsibility, facing dire consequences, but also demonstrating the power of prayer, action, and the ability to change the course of history. In both stories, divine intervention is subtly at work, as God listens to Moses' entreaties and ultimately saves the people, just as He works behind the scenes in the Megillah to bring about Esther's success. The connection between the two narratives underscores the enduring relevance of leadership, faith, and the ability to seek forgiveness and redemption.

The Torah portion Ki Tisa, which tells the story of the golden calf and the aftermath of the Israelites' disobedience, can be explored through the lens of the Megillat Esther, highlighting themes of repentance, leadership, divine intervention but more so, how the Jewish people are when God and leadership is invisible. In Ki Tisa, after the Israelites fall into idolatry, Moses' leadership is put to the test. His passionate plea for the people's forgiveness, and his willingness to risk his own life for their redemption, mirrors Esther's selfless courage in saving the Jewish people in Persia. Both Moses and Esther step into roles of immense responsibility, facing dire consequences, but also demonstrating the power of prayer, action, and the ability to change the course of history. In both stories, divine intervention is subtly at work, as God listens to Moses' entreaties and ultimately saves the people, just as He works behind the scenes in the Megillah to bring about Esther's success. The connection between the two narratives underscores the enduring relevance of leadership, faith, and the ability to seek forgiveness and redemption.

B"H At Har Sinai, we received the Torah with open miracles. In the days of Achashverosh, we accepted it again-this time, with true free will. Megillat Esther teaches us to find Hashem even in hiddenness, but our hearts still long for the Beit HaMikdash and the return of open prophecy. Where do you see Hashem's hand in your life today? To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

Rabbi Fohrman and Imu discover that it's not only Haman who has a counterpart in Eden. There's a whole list of characters from Megillat Esther who are playing out a version of the Tree of Knowledge story. But what is the Megillah trying to tell us by taking this story from the beginning of Genesis and replaying it here at the end of Tanach? It's not just about Haman's being a supervillain. There's something for all of us to learn here about what happens when humans try to play God.A Book Like No Other is an exclusive product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. If you loved this episode and are already a member of Aleph Beta, make sure you're logged in to listen to upcoming episodes. We'll even give you a private RSS feed so you can keep listening on your favorite podcasting app. Feel free to email info@alephbeta.org if you have any trouble. And if you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Click here and become a member to access this new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. Subscribe to Aleph Beta to unlock the full season and get access to a private RSS feed for seamless listening on your favorite podcast app!

Chazal tell us that in the future, all korbanot will be nullified except for one—the Korban Toda. We know that a Todah is brought when someone is saved from a dangerous situation. But after Mashiach comes, when there will no longer be any danger, why would we need to bring a Korban Todah? The Belzer Rebbe explained that in the future, Hashem will reveal to us all of the miracles He performed for us every single day of our lives—miracles we never even realized were happening. For those, we bring korbanot to Hashem in gratitude. The pasuk states, " כימי צאתך מארץ מצרים אראנו נפלאות "—"As in the days when you left Egypt, I will show you wonders." The Meshech Chochma quotes the midrash, which explains that in the future, we will see miracles beyond anything we could have ever imagined. What kind of miracles could possibly surpass Kriyat Yam Suf and the Ten Plagues? He answers that the greatest revelation will be when we see how every moment in history—even the darkest times—was truly a manifestation of Hashem's infinite love. This realization will be the greatest novelty to us. A perfect example is Megillat Esther. Even though Bneh Yisrael had already seen Kriyat Yam Suf, the Megillah was a completely new revelation for them. Why? Because in Megillat Esther, we witnessed how Hashem controls everything within nature. The story unfolded over more than ten years, yet every detail was orchestrated precisely by Hashem. This was the chidush—that Hashem can control everything while remaining completely hidden, without anyone realizing it. Rabbi Menashe Reizman gave a mashal: Imagine someone trying to enter a king's palace while guards stand at their posts. One way to get inside is to eliminate the guards and then walk in. A much harder way is to sneak through while the guards remain in place. In the same way, Hashem controls everything—down to the finest details—while we are there, without disrupting the normal order of the world. In the future, all of this will be revealed. We will see Hashem's hand in every part of our lives, and we will experience overwhelming joy. We will run to bring korbanot to Hashem for all the chesed He has done for us that we never even knew about. A young man from London recently shared his story with me. He is married to a girl from Brooklyn. When I asked how their shidduch came about, he explained that his wife had gone to seminary in Israel, where she made some friends from London. Before returning to America, she stopped in London to visit these friends. One night, as she arrived at their apartment, she discovered that the door was locked, and she couldn't get in. She called another friend, who invited her to stay at her house. While she was there, she met her friend's mother, who immediately thought she would be the perfect match for her son. And that's how they got married. Look at how Hashem brings couples together in ways that seem so natural, yet are completely miraculous. How does a girl from Brooklyn end up meeting her zivug in London? Hashem arranged for her to become close friends with someone from London, orchestrated her stopover in the city, and then—at just the right moment—caused her to get locked out of her friend's apartment. These kinds of stories happen to hundreds of people every single day, yet most of the time, we don't even recognize Hashem's involvement. Recently, we witnessed an open miracle that Hashem performed through the natural way of the world: Terrorists had planned to detonate bombs on five buses in Israel during the morning rush hour at 9 a.m., when the buses would be packed with people. Rachmana litzlan, had their plan succeeded, the casualties would have been devastating. But instead, the bombs went off at 9 p.m. the night before—when the buses were empty, parked in a lot. How could such a sophisticated, carefully planned attack have failed so drastically? How did they make the exact same timing mistake on every single bomb? To the world, it looked like human error. But we know the truth. This was nothing less than the Yad Hashem to save His children, hidden within the natural order. It is up to us to look for Hashem's hand in everything, to find it as often as we can, and to appreciate—even now—the endless kindness that Hashem does for us every single day.

Often music reflects the mood of the time we are in. That is the case with Megillat Esther – but in a surprising way. While we are chanting in a joyous musical mode, reflected in the trope of Purim, we suddenly hear two mournful tunes at several points during the Megillah reading. There are six verses that we sing to this mournful trope, the trope for Eicha, the book of Lamentations, which we read on Tisha B'Av. What does Purim, our happiest holiday, have to do with Tisha B'Av, our saddest?Join us on Shabbat morning as we examine different times during the Jewish year where there is a juxtaposition between joy and sorrow. How do we hold both at the same time?

Note for Premium Members: This episode is part of our free release of "A Book Like No Other." If you're a premium subscriber, you already have access to this content in your premium feed.Rabbi Fohrman and Imu explore parallels between Megillat Esther and the Garden of Eden, beginning from the hint in the Midrash that links Haman to the Tree of Knowledge. The familiar characters from these well-known stories suddenly appear in a new light, as Haman becomes even more villainous, and Adam's defiance becomes even more shocking. A Book Like No Other is an exclusive product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum.New to A Book Like No Other? Welcome! This is our first-ever free release of this premium series. If you enjoy this episode, become an Aleph Beta member to access our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, including future episodes of this season. Visit alephbeta.org to join.Premium members: Already enjoying this series? Make sure you're logged in to access upcoming episodes through your private RSS feed. Need help? Email info@alephbeta.org.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. Subscribe to Aleph Beta to unlock the full season and get access to a private RSS feed for seamless listening on your favorite podcast app!

Note for Premium Members: This episode is part of our free release of "A Book Like No Other." If you're a premium subscriber, you already have access to this content in your premium feed.The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives?Join Imu Shalev and Rabbi David Fohrman as they dive deeply into Megillat Esther to find an answer to this question. They start off with a very odd set of comments from our sages, claiming that there were angels at work in the Esther story. The Megillah doesn't say anything about angels, so what on earth made the rabbis think that? Rabbi Fohrman teases the possibility that these strange angel stories are all pointing to a link between Esther, a narrative from the end of Tanach, and another story all the way back in Genesis. If we explore that connection, we may eventually find the key to the Megillah's moral message.A Book Like No Other is an exclusive product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum.New to A Book Like No Other? Welcome! This is our first-ever free release of this premium series. If you enjoy this episode, become an Aleph Beta member to access our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, including future episodes of this season. Visit alephbeta.org to join.Premium members: Already enjoying this series? Make sure you're logged in to access upcoming episodes through your private RSS feed. Need help? Email info@alephbeta.org. A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. Subscribe to Aleph Beta to unlock the full season and get access to a private RSS feed for seamless listening on your favorite podcast app!

Note for Premium Members: This episode is part of our free release of "A Book Like No Other." If you're a premium subscriber, you already have access to this content in your premium feed.The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives?Join Imu Shalev and Rabbi David Fohrman as they dive deeply into Megillat Esther to find an answer to this question. They start off with a very odd set of comments from our sages, claiming that there were angels at work in the Esther story. The Megillah doesn't say anything about angels, so what on earth made the rabbis think that? Rabbi Fohrman teases the possibility that these strange angel stories are all pointing to a link between Esther, a narrative from the end of Tanach, and another story all the way back in Genesis. If we explore that connection, we may eventually find the key to the Megillah's moral message.A Book Like No Other is an exclusive product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum.New to A Book Like No Other? Welcome! This is our first-ever free release of this premium series. If you enjoy this episode, become an Aleph Beta member to access our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, including future episodes of this season. Visit alephbeta.org to join.Premium members: Already enjoying this series? Make sure you're logged in to access upcoming episodes through your private RSS feed. Need help? Email info@alephbeta.org.Subscribe to Aleph Beta to unlock the full season of A Book Like No Other and get access to a private RSS feed for seamless listening on your favorite podcast app. Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

An idea developed by the Ketav Sofer on Megillat Esther resonates with something that appeared in Daf Yomi a few days ago and with the life and legacy of Senator Joe Lieberman. The idea of the Ketav Sofer appears here: https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14083&pgnum=337 The idea that emerges on Bava Metzia 32b is here: Rashi s.v. אי אמרת https://shas.alhatorah.org/Full/Bava_Metzia/32b.9#e0n6 The link to Rabbi Ethan Tucker's eulogy for Senator Lieberman is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/_NTVjFB_FnU?si=8fu-kCINHVPhlHnc&t=5515

The Gemara says we don't say Hallel on Purim because the reading of the Megilah takes the place of Hallel. On the surface level, this is difficult to understand. Hallel is words of praise to Hashem while reading the Megila just tells a story. In fact, the name of Hashem is not written there at all, so where exactly is the praise? One answer is that precisely because Hashem's name is not there, and we are reading the story with the understanding that He is behind everything that was happening, that itself is the praise of Hashem- recognizing that He's behind the scenes in every occurrence, and there's a master plan in motion. Whenever someone relates a Hashgacha Peratit story, it's the same kind of praise. They're understanding that the seemingly regular events that took place in their lives were completely orchestrated by Hashem. They put Hashem's name into every sentence and turn a mundane story into a great mitzvah. The more a person can recognize Hashem's involvement, the greater the praise becomes. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted a Chatam Sofer who brought to light an unbelievable praise of Hashem in Megillat Esther. It says there that Ahashverosh had seven close advisors, and when Vashti refused his request, he advised with them on how to go about punishing her. As we know, Vashti being killed is what paved the way for Esther to come in and bring about salvation to Klal Yisrael. It was this meeting that was deciding the fate of Vashti. There was already a prosecution in heaven on Vashti, being the granddaughter of Nevuchadnezer who destroyed the Beit Hamikdash, but that was not enough to seal her fate. The Gemara says that each of the names of the seven advisors hinted to a different aspect of the service of the Beit Hamikdash, and that brought the angels in heaven to ask Hashem to have mercy on His nation, in the merit of the service of the Beit Hamikdash. כרשנא (Karshena), the name of the first advisor, sounds like the words Kar Ben Shana, which the Maharsha says refers to the daily offerings in the Beit Hamikdash. The angels in heaven said to Hashem, ‘If you don't save the Jews, who is going to bring the Kar Ben Shana?' The next advisor's name was שתר (Shetar), which sounds like the words שתי תורין (Sheteh Torin), the two turtle doves that were brought for certain offerings. And once again, the angels said to Hashem, ‘If you don't save the Jews, who is going to bring those offerings to You?' The third advisor's name was אדמתא (Admata), which hints to the Mizbe'ach Adama, the altar made of earth upon which all of the Korbanot were brought. The next advisor's name was תרשיש (Tarshish), which alludes to the Tarshish stone that was put into the breastplate of the Kohen Gadol, who worked in the Beit Hamikdash. The next advisor's name was מרס (Meres), which alludes to the stirring of the blood of certain bird offerings. The next advisor's name was מרסנא (Marsina), which alluded to the stirring of the oil and flour in a flour offering. The last advisor's name was ממוכן (Memuchan), which alludes to the preparation of the Shulchan upon which the 12 loaves of bread were placed. For each of these things, the angels asked Hashem, ‘Who is going to continue them if Your nation will perish?' Because of those advocating angels, who were prompted because of the names of those advisors, the fate of Vashti was sealed for death, and the pathway of salvation was paid for the Jews. Says the Chatam Sofer, Look at the unbelievable Hashgacha of Hashem here, and how much He loves and cares for us. He knew that one day these seven people would be meeting together in a room, and the Jews would need zechuyot at that time to have judgment in their favor. So, He put into the minds of the parents of these seven goy advisors, decades before, to name their children those specific names that would allude to the service in the Beit Hamikdash. Hashem was planning our salvation from decades before, even going deep into the minds of those Persian parents to make sure they name their children accordingly. The Hashgacha of Hashem is mind blowing! Every time we expose another aspect of His Hashgacha, we are also singing a type of Hallel and giving Him praise.

As Purim became a holiday of tremendous festivities and lightheartedness, the Rabbis knew that the end of the Megillah in Chapter 9 has a dubious quality, that of a massacre on Haman's people.  Is this a happy ending, a desirable ending, that of massacre, that of Jews finally (and really for its time, only possible in the Jewish imagination but not in practice) having power?  So the Rabbis created a requirement that on the Shabbat morning before Purim, one must read about the Amalekites. In this podcast, I present traditional commentary and observations given the context of the fighting in Gaza.

Purim begins after Shabbat ends and lasts until sundown on Sunday. You might think you know all there is to know about Purim. If you do, this episode may show how much more there is to know about the book from which Purim sprung--Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther. This episode runs for about a half-hour but I hope you find it both interesting and informative.Support the show

The Devash Megillat Esther (Hadar Press, 2024) includes the full Hebrew Megillah text, an original kid-friendly English translation, and carefully selected commentaries from 2,000 years of Jewish tradition brought to life in newly accessible ways. Devash unlocks sophisticated texts for learners of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging deep questioning and growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Devash Megillat Esther (Hadar Press, 2024) includes the full Hebrew Megillah text, an original kid-friendly English translation, and carefully selected commentaries from 2,000 years of Jewish tradition brought to life in newly accessible ways. Devash unlocks sophisticated texts for learners of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging deep questioning and growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

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.

Megillat Esther In Depth #3 by Rabbi Joshua Maroof

Megillat Esther In Depth #2 by Rabbi Joshua Maroof

The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives?Join Imu Shalev and Rabbi David Fohrman as they dive deeply into Megillat Esther to find an answer to this question. They start off with a very odd set of comments from our sages, claiming that there were angels at work in the Esther story. The Megillah doesn't say anything about angels, so what on earth made the rabbis think that? Rabbi Fohrman teases the possibility that these strange angel stories are all pointing to a link between Esther, a narrative from the end of Tanach, and another story all the way back in Genesis. If we explore that connection, we may eventually find the key to the Megillah's moral message.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.If you loved this episode and are already a member of Aleph Beta, log in to alephbeta.org to listen to upcoming episodes. We'll even give you a private RSS feed so you can keep listening to A Book Like No Other on your favorite podcasting app. Feel free to email info@alephbeta.org if you have any trouble. And if you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access this new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts.. Click here to subscribe. Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.To support this podcast, subscribe to Aleph Beta.

The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives?Join Imu Shalev and Rabbi David Fohrman as they dive deeply into Megillat Esther to find an answer to this question. They start off with a very odd set of comments from our sages, claiming that there were angels at work in the Esther story. The Megillah doesn't say anything about angels, so what on earth made the rabbis think that? Rabbi Fohrman teases the possibility that these strange angel stories are all pointing to a link between Esther, a narrative from the end of Tanach, and another story all the way back in Genesis. If we explore that connection, we may eventually find the key to the Megillah's moral message.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.If you loved this episode and are already a member of Aleph Beta, log in to alephbeta.org to listen to upcoming episodes. We'll even give you a private RSS feed so you can keep listening to A Book Like No Other on your favorite podcasting app. Feel free to email info@alephbeta.org if you have any trouble. And if you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access this new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts.. Click here to subscribe. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much moreFollow us on your favorite social media.

Moshe said to Yehoshua, “Choose people for us and go do battle with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill”. (17:9) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בְּחַר־לָ֣נוּ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְצֵ֖א הִלָּחֵ֣ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק מָחָ֗ר אָנֹכִ֤י נִצָּב֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וּמַטֵּ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדִֽי׃ בחר לנו אנשים. היה עמלק גדול בחכמת האצטגנינות ובחר אנשי מלחמתו אנשים שלא יוכלו למות בשנה ההיא כי הוא ידע זה בחכמת הכוכבים והמזלות ועל כן אמר משה ליהושע בחר לנו אנשים כיוצא בהם שלא יוכל להתחכם עלינו שיהרוג הוא מישראל וישראל לא יהרוג אחד מהם וזהו שכתוב ויחלש יהושע ולא אמר ויהרוג, ומה שאמר בחר לנו שהשוה אותו לעצמו ולא אמר בחר לי דרשו רז'ל מכאן יהי כבוד תלמידך חביב עליך כשלך. בחר לנו אנשים, “choose men for us!” The Amalekites were expert astrologers (compare Rashi; our edition מכשפים, sorcerers). Moses meant that Joshua should select men who according to their horoscopes would not die during the current year, something Moses was aware of due to his own knowledge of astrology. The two armies facing each other would all consist of soldiers who according to their respective horoscopes would not die during that year. As a result of these considerations neither army inflicted fatal casualties on the other during this encounter. This is what is meant when the Torah reports the outcome of the battle as: “Joshua weakened Amalek and his people by the sword.” The Torah carefully refrained from mentioning that the Israelites actually killed any of the Amalekites. When Moses said to Joshua “choose for us,” he compared Joshua to himself and did not say: “choose for me!” Mechilta Amalek section 1 uses this phrase to teach: “the honor of your student should be as dear to you as your own honor.” https://www.sefaria.org/Rabbeinu_Bahya,_Shemot_17.9.1 https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.17.9 In the Talmud Yoma 52b, Chazal say that the word machar, tomorrow, which is found in the above pasuk, can be interpreted as belonging to the previous phrase: “Choose people for us and go to do battle with Amalek tomorrow.” Alternatively, it can refer to the second half of the pasuk: “Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill.” We wonder what is the significance of the word, “tomorrow”? What message regarding the war with Amalek is being taught to us via the word “tomorrow”? Horav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., explains that the concept of “tomorrow” plays a crucial role in Amalek's fight against Klal Yisrael. Amalek denotes evil. He represents the forces of evil within a human being – the yetzer hara, evil inclination, whose function it is to ensnare a person and lead him to sin. Outright incitement does not work. The yetzer hara has to use guile to convince a person that the sin is really not so bad; in fact, it might even be the right thing to do. It is very sinister in its methods to convince a person to renege against the Torah, to abrogate mitzvah observance and to perform outright transgressions. In order for the yetzer hara to convince an observant Jew to act against the Torah, it must apply patience and discretion. One of its most potent tools is that of “tomorrow.” It assures its victim, “Yes, of course, you should act appropriately. Very definitely, you must perform this mitzvah. Do not do it today, however, start tomorrow. Study Torah – tomorrow. Give tzedakah – tomorrow. Do whatever good you plan on doing, but do it tomorrow. Thus, the yetzer hara grabs hold of a person and leads him to neglect the mitzvos and eventually to become a full-fledged baal aveirah, sinner. This is the disease called “Amaleikism” that the Torah instructs us to expunge from our midst. When the opportunity to perform a mitzvah presents itself, one should not dawdle, but he should take immediate action and carry out his responsibility. One who slacks off in the area of positive mitzvah performance, will soon end up taking the initiative in a sinful manner. This, says Rav Yosef Chaim, is the idea behind Moshe Rabbeinu's “lifting his hands,” an action that catalyzed Klal Yisrael's victory, as opposed to his lowering his hands, which gave strength to Amalek. Raising his hands symbolizes action, our way of defeating the yetzer hara and its personification in this world – Amalek. Allowing our hands to drop sustains the evil of Amalek, who takes his strength from our weakness. Hashem's name is hidden throughout Megillat Esther. Yet, the Rabbis of Kabbalah found the acronym of His name in the pasuk “yavo hamelech v'haman hayom- the king and Haman shall come today” (ibid. 5:4). Through the last word of the phrase, hayom (today), Esther stressed the proper use of the antidote to Haman's machar (ibid.:12). Indeed, the battle against Amalek starts with the desire to serve Hashem with enthusiasm and without delay. Parashat Zachor, the section that appears at the conclusion of our parasha, and which presents the obligation to remember Amalek's attack against Benei Yisrael, is among the most important sections in the entire Torah. It is of such importance that there rests upon each and every one of us an obligation to hear the reading of this parasha once a year, thereby fulfilling the obligation to eradicate the nation of Amalek. The question arises in this context, why did the Torah view Amalek as the eternal enemy of the Jewish people? After all, we find throughout the Torah many other nations that also waged war against Am Yisrael, peoples who sought to destroy us and deny us our existence. In order to answer this question, we must, in my humble opinion, carefully examine two terms that appear in virtually every instance in Tanach where we find mention of Amalek. I refer to the term “mikreh” (happenstance, coincidence), which comes up repeatedly in the context of Amalek, and the word “machar” (tomorrow), which we often find in reference to the Jewish people. Let us survey these instances and then assess their significance: 1. In the first battle against Amalek, Moshe asks Yehoshua, “Moshe said to Yehoshua… go fight against Amalek tomorrow…“ (Shemot 16:9). 2. At the end of our parasha, Hashem commands us never to forget what Amalek did: “… that they chanced upon you along the way” (Rashi explains the word “karcha” as a derivative of the word “mikreh”). 3. King David battled against the Amalekites who plundered his city of Tziklag: “David smote them from morning until evening on the following day“ (Shemuel I 30:17). 4. A young Amalekite informs David that he killed Shaul on MountGilboa: “The youngster who informed him said to him: ‘Ihappened to have been on MountGilboa…”(Shemuel II 1:6). 5. In Megillat Ester we meet the descendant of the Amalekite king, Aggag – Haman. Ester invites Haman to her feast and says: “If it pleases the king… the king and Haman shall come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king requests.” 6. Mordechai, dressed in sackcloth, sends the royal messenger Hatach to tell Ester of the edict against the Jews: “Mordechai told him all that happened to him… “ We thus find numerous sources related to Amalek, and they all make reference to one of these concepts – “machar” or “mikreh.” I believe that these two concepts can help us answer the question with which we began. The Torah affords great importance to the perpetuation of the memory of Amalek's attack because Amalek, by its very essence, expresses the notion of “mikreh” – happenstance. “Mikreh” in effect means the absence of Hashem's providence in the world. Amalek represents coincidence – the lack of faith in hashgacha peratit – divine providence, the belief that no being oversees world affairs, everything happens here purely by coincidence. Of this the Torah wishes to remind us every year; it is forbidden for us to allow “Amalekism,” the theology of “mikreh,” to take hold. In contradistinction to the Amalekite “mikreh” is the Jewish “machar.” “Tomorrow” expresses the hope, the hashgacha, the idea that there is Someone in the heavens who looks after each and every one of His creatures on earth. “Machar” is the notion that there is something for which to wake up in the morning, the world does not progress at random, without a guiding hand. Everything is foreseen from the outset, and we are granted the power to act as we wish. “Machar” is about our free will to decide what to achieve, what to make of our lives. In Hebrew, the letters of the word “Machar,” tomorrow, are the same as the letters for Rechem, or womb. The word for mercy, Rachamim, is also from the same word. The womb is always about mercy, about nurturing hope for another day, about pushing further toward continuation and reaching a goal. Amalek cannot abide that. Rav Hutner writes that Machar refers to the ultimate Tomorrow, that off Olam HaBa. We Klal Yisroel do not exist for the today of Olam HaZeh. We delay our gratification for the tomorrow of Olam HaBa. Amalek exists in in this world only of today. They exist for the simple today, the immediate gratification, and they deny the ultimate tomorrow. Their existence in the world obscures the ability to see the next world. So long as Amalek exists, we cannot see the tomorrow. So long as there are people in the world who claim there is not Olam HaBa and live like that and seem to exist with no problems, they obscure Olam HaBa for the rest of the world.
We can overcome them on the day of Tomorrow. When we live our lives with an eye on Tomorrow then we are victorious. we read Zachor on Shabbat. r Rave Rudman 
Shabbos is a day of tomorrow, of Olam HaBa. This world is, “Today to work”. Olam HaBa is the tomorrow to receive the reward.” Shabbos is one-sixtieth of Olam HaBa . Erev Shabbos is the ‘today' to work. Shabbos is the ‘tomorrow' to receive the reward. One has to read the Parsha of Amalek on Shabbos. Only on Shabbos can one truly eradicate Amalek. It is the antithesis of Amalek. It is the day of Tomorrow. 
But you can only see that if you realize that the entire world is directed and guided by HaShem. If in this world you can see the hidden hand of HKB”H. 
Only on Shabbos, and only in Olam HaBa can we see that all of this world is truly one. Only on Shabbos can we see that HaShem is the King. Therefore, on Shabbos, we read Parshas Zachor. 
This is to prepare for Purim when we read the Megillah where all of this came true. Purim also has within it a day of Machar. When Esther asks the king for one more day for the Jews of Shushan, she asks that let tomorrow be like today. The king is the King, as is well known in the Megilah. And the tomorrow is the Tomorrow of Olam HaBa. 
Maybe that is the connection between the walled cities specifically from the time of Yehoshua. We want to mention his merit in the connection to the Machar. Yehoshua was the one who had the first battle of Machar against Amalek. We ask that in his merit let us be able to have another Machar, and be able to complete his battle.
And we daven for all of this to once again be seen speedily in our times! 'ושמתי פדות בין עמי ובין עמך למחר יהיה האות הזה' (שמות ח, יט), נראה לי בסיעתא דשמיא 'מחר' אותיות רמ'ח ואותיות 'רחם', והענין הוא כי ישראל כל אחד מהם צריך לקיים רמ'ח מצות, וזה אי אפשר שיעשה כל אחד רמ'ח מצוות עשה אך ע'י אהבה שיש בישראל בין זה לזה כל אחד יהיה נשלם ברמ'ח ממעשה חבירו, ולכן רמ'ח הם אותיות 'רחם' כי 'רחם' הוא תרגום של אהבה לרמוז רמ'ח מצות נשלמין אצל כל אחד ואחד על ידי 'רחם' שהוא אהבה שיש בין זה לזה, וידוע כי שלימות קיום רמ'ח עשה מסוגלים לגאולה כי רמ'ח עשה הם בסוד החסדים, והם בסוד ו'ה שבשם, ושס'ה לא תעשה הם סוד הגבורות והם בסוד י'ה שבשם, והגאולה תהיה מתגבורת החסדים ועל ידי שלימות תיקון ו'ה שבשם, גם ידוע על ידי מדת האהבה שתהיה שלימה בישראל תהיה הגאולה, לזה אמר 'ושמתי פדות בין עמי ובין עמך למחר' אותיות 'לרמ'ח' ואותיות 'לרחם' רוצה לומר על ידי זכות רמ'ח עשה שעתידין לקבל בסיני ועל ידי זכות רחם שיש בינהם יהיה האות הזה של הפדות: או יובן בסיעתא דשמיא ידוע דקריאת שמע יש בה רמ'ח תיבות מפני כי כוחה גדול להכרית את אויבי ישראל הקליפות והתחתונים שברשותם והיא תהיה להם כמו רומח לדקור וכמו חרב להרוג כמו שכתוב' רוממות אל בגרונם' (תהלים קמט, ו) זו קראית שמע ועל ידי כן יהיה 'חרב פיפיות בידם' להרוג את אויביהם, ולכן גבי פנחס כתיב 'ויקח רמ'ח בידו' ואמרו רבותינו ז'ל זכות רמ'ח תיבות דקריאת שמע וגבר בזה על הסטרא אחרא, וזהו דשאמר 'ושמתי פדות בין עמי ובין עמך למחר יהיה האות הזה' לרמ'ח הלמד משמש במקום בעבור כלומר בעבור זכות רמ'ח תיבין דקריאת שמע יהיה האות הזה של פדות עמי מיד אויביהם וגבר ישראל, ולכן אנחנו אומרים בסוף הברכה של הקריאת שמע 'הבוחר בעמו ישראל באהבה' דתרגום 'אהבה' 'רחם' ואז אנחנו מתחילין לומר רמ'ח תיבות דקריאת שמע דזכינו לרמ'ח תיבות דקריאת שמע שתהיה רומ'ח וחרב בידינו נגד אויבינו על ידי 'רחם' שהוא אהבה שיש לנו זה על זה: https://www.sefaria.org/Ben_Ish_Hai,_Halachot_1st_Year,_Vaera,_Introduction.1

Karen and her guest Rachel Sharansky Danziger discuss the resonance of Megillat Esther for Israel and the Jewish world today. They look to Esther and Rachel's parents Avital and Natan Sharansky for inspiration about the plight of the hostages and how to deal with adversity. As we begin Chodesh Adar we pray for a safe return of all the hostages, healing for the injured, and that light and joy return to Am Yisrael in the month of Adar. The Eden Center is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to support our programming. If you've been enjoying and drawing strength from this podcast, we ask that you consider a generous donation in honor of Karen and this podcast: https://www.jgive.com/new/he/ils/donation-targets/123484

Megillat Esther In Depth #1 by Rabbi Joshua Maroof