‫בס“ד‬

Purim Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Happy Purim!!! 13 Adar 5770/Feb 27, 2010 Vol. I Num. 20

Which came first, Haman or Hamantaschen?

While the discussion of the chicken and
egg remains a great debate, the
question of the Haman or the
Hamantaschen is answerable. At first
glance the question may seem trivial,
but there may be a profound hidden
lesson, in the true spirit of Purim, that
we may discover.
Throughout the Megillah we constantly
are reminded about the whereabouts
and doings of Haman. Who or what is
this Haman and what exactly does this
represent? In fact, the word Haman
appears 54 times in the Megillah which
is numerically equivalent in Gematria to
the word “‫“המלך‬, the king. Clearly
Haman is not the king, so why is the
Megillah insinuating that there is such a
similarity?
HaRav HaGaon Reb Azarya Berzon
Shlita, the Scholar in Residence of our
esteemed Yeshiva University Torah
MiTzion Zichron Dov Torah U‟Madda
Beit Midrash of Toronto, Canada, a
project of the Yeshiva University Center
for the Jewish future and an affiliate of
the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological
Seminary, itself an affiliate of Yeshiva
University, is fond of using the following
tool, related in the name of his Rebbe, R‟
Moshe Shapiro, when attempting to
understand a word in Tanach. If one
looks at the very first usage of a given
word in Tanach, the true meaning of the
word can be found. With this great
insight in mind, I suggest we look at the
Random Questions
(Sources are provided to help the reader research answers)
Answers will be provided on Page 2.
 How do we know the people of Shushan were hard of
hearing? (Esther 1:1)
 How do we know that Vashti had two mothers? (Esther 1:9)
 How do we know that Yehoshua had big ears? (Shemot 17:14)
 How do we know there was baseball in the Torah? (Bereishit 1:1)
 What are the names of the Jewish cowboys? (Adon Olam)
first usage of the word ‫המן‬, Haman, in
Tanach.
Immediately after the great Exodus from
Egypt, the Jewish Nation found
themselves in a barren desert, searching
for bread and water. The Torah records
that although bread was not available,
the People of Israel found something else
to feast upon.
‫ובני ישראל אכלו את המן ארבעים שנה עד באם‬
‫אל ארץ נושבת את המן אכלו עד באם אל קצה‬
:‫ארץ כנען‬
And the children of Israel ate Haman for
forty years until they came to an
inhabited land, they ate Haman until
they came to the Land of Canaan.
(Shemot 16:35)
The Torah here records something
incredible. While bread was definitely
not accessible, and Entenmann‟s not
invented until 1898, the children of Israel
had unlimited access to Haman. They ate
Haman for an entire forty years until they
reached the shores of Israel. What is this
Haman that our ancestors were eating?
The Rambam in Hilchot Ma‟achalot
Assurot 2:3 states that cannibalism is a
Biblical prohibition. Therefore, it is
inconceivable that the Torah meant that
the Jewish People were eating Haman‟s
body. Additionally, even if we assume
that miraculously that one body can feed
an entire nation, it is not likely that
Haman, after being eaten for forty years
by the entire Nation would still be strong
purimtorah@torontotorah.com
enough to lead the horse of Mordechai
through the streets of
Shushan. Therefore, the only plausible
conclusion is that Bnei Yisrael were not
actually eating the physical body of
Haman, but rather the
Hamantaschen. Apparently, the three
cornered doughy pastry with a
strawberry, poppy, or chocolate (my
personal favourite) known to many as
Hamantaschen, or Oznei Haman in
Hebrew, was available in the desert. To
my knowledge, archaeologists are yet to
discover the source of the Cocoa or
Blueberry trees in the desert, but the
Torah attests to their existence.
Now, we must grapple with the obvious
question: why were our Bubbies and
Zaidies wandering the desert munching
on Hamantaschen? The wicked Haman
had not yet come into existence and their
choice of snack surely should be viewed
as a gross anachronism.
Ma‟aseh Avot Siman LaBanim, that which
happens to our forefathers is an omen for
us, their children. This message is not
just a catchy phrase employed by our
great Sages, but it is meant to provide a
window, a peephole, into the impetus of
our the actions of our forefathers. What
was message our ancestors conveyed by
their fressing on this sugary treat?
The message is clear; the three-cornered
pastry represents the three corners of the
(triangular) world, the three pillars which
the world stands upon, (perhaps also the
three blind mice, but this is beyond the
scope of this article). Our ancestors are
telling us that we must eat the
Hamantaschen, we must fight the enemies
of our people. We must not be reactive
in this regard, but we must be proactive,
even eating the Hamantaschen hundreds
and hundreds of years before Haman
existed to ensure the survival of the
Jewish nation. This is the lesson that our
ancestors were teaching us, and the
lesson we must impart to our children
and our children‟s children as we eat the
Hamantaschen this year.
purimtorah@torontotorah.com

Become a parent organization and

get your logo here!
Who/What am I?

Who/what am I from the Purim story?

Mazal tov to Rabbi Azarya and
1. I have a green face: 5. I had a restless night: Charnie Berzon on the birth
a. Shrek and Fiona a. Achashveirosh
b. Esther of a grandson,
b. The princess and the
c. Martians pea Ploni Almoni
2. I have a tail: c. Members of May he grow to Torah,
a. The X-Men‟s YUTMZBMZDoT with Chupah and Ma’asim Tovim!
Nightcrawler twins
b. A person with toilet- 6. I was in danger of extinction:
paper stuck to his shoe
c. Vashti
a. The tachash Wanted:
b. The Jews of Persia We are looking for another parent
3. I wear a 3-cornered hat: c. The Na‟vi people of
Pandora organization as our acronym is
a. Haman
b. Captain Jack Sparrow
too short! By joining our beit
7. We hung on a tree:
c. 13th Century German a. The sons of Haman
midrash, your organization will be
Jews b. Apples on the tip of everyone’s tongue
4. I speak many languages: c. December lights whenever they say (Your
a. CIA agent Sydney 8. This mitzvah of Purim is not in Organization) Yeshiva University
Bristow the Megillah: Torah miTzion Beit Midrash
b. Mordechai a. Matanos L‟evyonim Zichron Dov of Toronto!
c. Belgians b. Shalach Manos
c. “Ad d‟lo yada”
Answers to Questions on
The 613 Mitzvot – Mitzvah 614 : Page 1:
1. ‫ימי אֲ חַ ְשוֵ רוֹש הּוא אֲ חַ ְשוֵ רוֹש‬
ֵ ִ‫ ב‬,‫וַ יְ ִהי‬
Ad d’Lo Yada Achashveirosh, who?
Achashveirosh!
2. ‫ עָ ְשתָ ה ִמ ְש ֵתה נ ִָשים‬,‫גַם וַ ְש ִתי הַ מַ לְ כָה‬
Also Vashti the queen was made
A gemara states (T.B. Megillah 7b), Zeira came back to life. The next from two women
‫חייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין‬ year, Rabbah invited him to make 3. ,‫ כְ ֹתב זֹאת זִ ָכרוֹן בַ סֵ פֶ ר‬,‫מ ֶֹשה‬-‫וַ יֹאמֶ ר ה' אֶ ל‬
‫ברוך מרדכי לארור המן‬: “It is incumbent another joint feast, and R‟ Zeira ַ‫ בְ ָאזְ נֵי יְ הוֹשֺ ע‬,‫וְ ִשים‬
upon an individual to become responded, „we may not merit a And HaShem said to Moses: 'Write
inebriated to the point that he miracle every hour‟”. this for a memorial in the book,
cannot distinguish between Blessed and place it in the ears of Joshua
Based on this story, we learn that the
Mordechai and Cursed Haman”. 4. ‫ וְ אֵ ת‬,‫ ֵאת הַ ָש ַמיִ ם‬,‫ בָ ָרא אֱ ֹלקים‬,‫אשית‬ ִ ‫בְ ֵר‬
mitzvah of inebriation on Purim day
Though in the times of the Talmud has been annulled. ‫ָארץ‬ֶ ָ‫ה‬
this dictum was faithfully followed, In the big inning G-d created the
[Note: This is the opinion of our great heaven and the earth.
an unfortunate incident is recorded
decisors, R‟ Zerachiah haLevi, R‟ 5.
in the same gemara that teaches us ‫בלי ראשית בלי תכלית‬
Ephraim and the Ran. For a
this practice must be curtailed Billy Reishit and Billy Tachlit
dissenting view, see the following
(ibid): ‫רבה ורבי זירא עבדו סעודת פורים‬
‫ קם רבה שחטיה לרבי‬,‫ איבסום‬,‫ בהדי הדדי‬minor poskim: Rashi, Abudraham,
‫ לשנה אמר‬.‫ למחר בעי רחמי ואחייה‬.‫ זירא‬Rosh, Rambam, Orchot Chaim, Poll: What do you think R’ Berzon’s
!‫ ניתי מר ונעביד סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי‬:‫ ליה‬Nimukei Yosef, Maharil, Shulchan
‫ לא בכל שעתא ושעתא מתרחיש‬:‫ אמר ליה‬- A r u c h , B a c h , R a m a , A r u c h newest grandson’s name will be?
‫“ ניסא‬Rabbah and R‟ Zeira haShulchan, Mishnah Berurah, and A) Rabbi J&B Soloveitchik Berzon
conducted a Purim feast together. Ha‟elef Shlomo, among others.] B) Mordechai Berzon
They became intoxicated, and
Rabbah slaughtered R‟ Zeira. The
purimtorah@torontotorah.com C) Yaakov (Jack) Daniel Berzon
next day, Rabbah prayed and R‟ D) Rabbi Azarya Berzon Jr.
E) Canadian Club Berzon

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com
 ‫‪Ha’Am V’Ha’Aretz‬‬
‫‪HaGaon Moreinu haRav Rosh haKollel R’ Mordechai Torczyner‬‬
‫‪Allentown,‬‬
‫‪Pennsylvania‬‬ ‫‪Born circa 1972 in lush New York City to‬‬
‫‪Eva and Evan Torczyner, R‟ Torczyner‬‬
‫תורה בתרגום‬
‫‪Allentown, Pennsylvania, founded in‬‬ ‫בעל בעלה של הרבנית‪ :‬דרשה לשבת זכור‬
‫‪was known in his early days by the‬‬
‫‪1762 by its namesake William Allen,‬‬ ‫‪English name Michael. Only later in life‬‬
‫‪is situated next to the biblical city‬‬ ‫הימים הטובים שלנו מנציחים אירועים היסטוריים‬
‫‪did he begin to use his Hebrew name,‬‬ ‫מפוארים ‪ -‬תקומה לאומית‪ ,‬בריתות בין בני אדם לא‪-‬ל‬
‫‪of Beit Lechem. Though the Reading‬‬ ‫‪Mordechai, possibly due to the‬‬ ‫האינסופי‪ ,‬התערבות אלוהית בחייהם של בני תמותה ‪-‬‬
‫‪Railroad passes through this county‬‬ ‫‪Maharam Shick‟s opinion that there is a‬‬ ‫אבל הם מנציחים גם את המאפיינים אשר עיצבו את‬
‫‪seat of Lehigh County, it does not‬‬ ‫‪Torah prohibition to be called by a‬‬ ‫מעשי אבותינו בעבר אשר מהווים חלק מנפשינו‬
‫‪have an Oriental Avenue.‬‬ ‫‪name in a different language (or‬‬ ‫הלאומית‪.‬‬
‫‪The Liberty Bell in Liberty Bell Park‬‬ ‫‪because he just liked it better).‬‬ ‫אותם מאפיינים מעצבים את הדרך בה אנו מציינים כל‬
‫‪His genius was already apparent in‬‬ ‫חג‪ -‬מצוות היום שמביאות לידי ביטוי את המאפיינים‬
‫‪in Jerusalem was modeled after the‬‬ ‫הללו‪.‬‬
‫‪less famous bell, the Liberty Bell‬‬ ‫‪grade school, when he won consecutive‬‬
‫‪spelling bees at his elementary school,‬‬ ‫חג הסוכות‪ ,‬למשל‪ ,‬מנציח את נושא האמונה‪ ,‬אמון בא‬
‫‪currently in Philadelphia, which was‬‬ ‫‪-‬לוקים ‪ " ,‬לכתך אחרי במדבר בארץ לא זרועה " ‪,‬‬
‫‪Hebrew Academy of Long Beach‬‬
‫‪hidden during the American‬‬ ‫הנכונות של אבותינו ללכת בעקבות עמוד ענן ועמוד של‬
‫‪(HALB).‬‬ ‫אש בארץ אשר אין בה לא חלב ולא דבש ‪ .‬לכן ‪ ,‬אנו‬
‫‪Revolutionary War in Allentown.‬‬
‫‪After graduating HALB, (possibly, we‟re‬‬ ‫חוגגים על ידי ישיבה בסוכות ‪ ,‬בקתות אשר מציעות‬
‫‪Allentown‟s Jewish community is‬‬ ‫אמצעי הגנה דלים נגד האלמנטים של הטבע‪ ,‬בוטחים‬
‫‪just guessing) magna cume laude, he‬‬
‫‪blessed with the Dorney Park‬‬ ‫‪attended the Yeshiva University High‬‬ ‫באלוקים שידאג לנו‪.‬‬
‫‪and Wildwater Kingdom amusement‬‬ ‫‪School (MTA). Probably better at‬‬ ‫בפסח אנו מנציחים את הנושא של מסורה ‪ ,‬המסורת‬
‫‪park. The premier Orthodox‬‬ ‫‪acronyms than this writer who cannot‬‬ ‫שבה עוברים המסרים מדור לדור‪ " ,‬פקוד יפקוד " א‪-‬‬
‫‪congregation in the Lehigh County,‬‬ ‫‪figure out how MTA stands for that title,‬‬ ‫לוקים יושיע אתכם‪ .‬כך עוברת ההשראה לצאצאיהם‬
‫‪Congregation Sons of Israel, was‬‬ ‫המשועבדים של אברהם ושרה לזעוק אל הקב"ה‪ .‬לכן‪,‬‬
‫‪he graduated after a very successful‬‬
‫אנו חוגגים עם " והגדת לבנך"‪ ,‬עם הסדר שבנוי סביב‬
‫‪founded more than 100 years ago. It‬‬ ‫‪high school education. He then attended‬‬ ‫נושא המסורה ‪ ,‬לספר לילדים שלנו על ההיסטוריה‬
‫‪saw tremendous growth under its‬‬ ‫‪Yeshivat Kerem b‟Yavneh, returning to‬‬ ‫שלנו ‪ ,‬על מנת להעביר את המסר כי א ‪-‬לוקים יושיע‬
‫‪YU to receive his B.Sc, Master‟s and‬‬ ‫אותנו‪.‬‬
‫‪previous rabbi, Rabbi Morddeχai‬‬
‫‪smicha from that fine institution.‬‬
‫‪Torṣyner, and is continuing to‬‬ ‫בחג השבועות אנו מנציחים את מחויבותנו כלפי א ‪-‬‬
‫‪increase its influence under the‬‬ ‫‪After completing his yeshiva education,‬‬ ‫לוקים‪ ,‬התחייבות נצחית של נאמנות ומסירות‪ ,‬הנצחה‬
‫‪R‟ Torczyner went out to serve the‬‬ ‫של מעמד הר סיני במילים " נעשה ונשמע "‪ .‬לכן ‪ ,‬אנו‬
‫‪guidance of its current rabbi, Rabbi‬‬ ‫חוגגים ע"י הבאת ביכורים‪ .‬ביכורים‪ ,‬כל חקלאי מוסר‬
‫‪Jewish community, first as the spiritual‬‬
‫‪David Wilensky.‬‬ ‫‪leader of Young Israel of Pawtucket,‬‬
‫את הפירות הראשונים של עמלו כל שנה לא ‪-‬לוקים ‪,‬‬
‫‪Though Allentown, with a total‬‬ ‫‪Rhode Island and then in the same‬‬
‫לבית המקדש‪.‬‬
‫‪population of over 100,000, has a‬‬ ‫‪position at the Congregation Sons of‬‬ ‫מה שמביא אותנו לפורים ‪ ,‬ואל הקשר בין המצוות‬
‫‪Jewish elementary school, it is‬‬ ‫המעשיות שבו לאופיו המיוחד‪.‬‬
‫‪Israel in Allentown, Pennsylvania.‬‬
‫‪currently unable to support a‬‬ ‫אנו מציינים את פורים עם ארבע מצוות ‪ :‬קריאת‬
‫‪In 2009, R‟ Torczyner moved to Toronto‬‬ ‫מגילה‪ ,‬סעודת פורים‪ ,‬משלוח מנות (מתנות של אוכל)‬
‫‪Jewish high school, causing a mass‬‬ ‫‪to found Beit Midrash Zichron Dov as its‬‬ ‫ומתנות לאביונים (צדקה)‪.‬‬
‫‪exodus of older Rabbis, especially‬‬ ‫‪Rosh Kollel.‬‬ ‫קראנו את מגילת אסתר כדי להזכר בנס ולהודות לא‪-‬‬
‫‪those with ten year olds.‬‬ ‫‪R‟ Torczyner is an expert on using social‬‬ ‫לוקים על התרחשותו‪ .‬אנחנו נהנים מסעודת פורים כי‬
‫‪Allentown was the home to the‬‬ ‫‪media for Jewish education. Among his‬‬ ‫אנחנו תמיד חוגגים את ההצלה הא‪-‬לוקית עם סעודת‬
‫‪author of the WebShas, haMakor‬‬ ‫‪websites are The Rebbetzin‟s Husband,‬‬ ‫הודיה‪.‬‬
‫‪and The Rebbetzin‟s Husband‬‬ ‫‪WebShas, and HaMakor.‬‬ ‫אבל מהו המאפיין של חג זה המתקשר למצוות של‬
‫‪websites.‬‬ ‫חסד ‪ -‬הענקת מתנות של מזון‪ ,‬או צדקה?‬
‫התשובה‪ ,‬לענ "ד‪ ,‬טמונה באירוע החסד שהפך את נס‬
‫" ויזנב בך כל הנחשלים אחריך"‪ ,‬הם תקפו דווקא‬ ‫בזכות שאימץ מרדכי את אסתר ‪ ,‬הוא מצליח‬ ‫פורים לאפשרי ‪ -‬אירוע המוזכר בקושי ‪ ,‬אבל קריטי‬
‫את אלה שהיו חלשים‪ ,‬הנחשלים מאחור‪.‬‬ ‫לייעץ לה כשהיא בארמון‪.‬‬ ‫בעלילה‪.‬‬
‫אנו מחויבים בכל שנה לזכור את ההתקפה של‬ ‫זה מעשה גדול של חוסר אנוכיות‪ ,‬לאמץ יתומה‪,‬‬ ‫לפני עליית המן‪ ,‬לפני תחרות היופי על תפקיד המלכה‪,‬‬
‫עמלק‪ ,‬לא רק בכדי להנציח את האכזריות שלהם‪,‬‬ ‫לגדל אותה כאילו היא שלו‪ ,‬זה מה שעושה את כל‬ ‫עוד לפני המסיבה של אחשוורוש‪ ,‬מעשה מפתח בודד‬
‫אלא גם כדי לחזק את ההגנה שלנו מפני התקפה‬ ‫ההבדל‪.‬‬ ‫של נדיבות סלל את הדרך לגאולתנו‪ .‬זה כתוב במגילה‬
‫של הם ‪ ,‬כ ד י ל ה בט י ח ש ה עמ לק ה בא ‪ ,‬מת ו ך‬ ‫אבל לא משך את תשומת הלבנו‪ ,‬אנו נוטים לדלג על‬
‫וכך ‪ ,‬מדי שנה ‪ ,‬אנו מציינים את פורים לא רק‬ ‫זה‪.‬‬
‫ההיסטוריה הארוכה של עמלק‪ ,‬לא יוכל לחזור על‬ ‫בהודיה לא‪ -‬לוקים בקריאת מגילה וסעודה‪ ,‬אלא‬
‫ההצלחה של המקור ‪.‬‬ ‫גם עם חסד ‪ ,‬מתנות ‪ ,‬שיתוף ונתינת צדקה כדי‬ ‫המגילה כולה נשענת על מעשה אחד של חסד‪ " :‬ויהי‬
‫כאשר א נו מצל יחים ו יהי אומן ‪ ,‬כאשר אנ ו‬ ‫להנציח את החסד שבו נטועים זרעי הגאולה‪.‬‬ ‫אומן את הדסה היא אסתר בת דודו כי אין לה אב‬
‫ממשיכים בדרכו של מרדכי ‪ ,‬להוביל ולאמץ את‬ ‫ואם"‪ .‬אסתר היתה יתומה ומרדכי בן דודה לקח אותה‬
‫הבוקר ( נאמר בשבת זכור‪-‬המערכת) הפטרנו את‬ ‫לביתו וגידלה‪.‬‬
‫הסובבים אותנו ‪ ,‬אז אין נחשלים פגיעים ואין‬ ‫קריאת התורה בסיפור של מתקפת עמלק ‪ .‬צריך‬
‫ניצחון לעמלק ‪ ,‬במקום זאת ‪ " -‬ליהודים היתה‬ ‫להתבונן בסיפור הזה‪ ,‬על עם שלא היתה לו שום‬ ‫חסד הוא הנושא שמניע את פורים ‪ .‬בדיוק כמו‬
‫אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר"‪ .‬כך נוכל לחגוג ניצחון‬ ‫בעיה נראית לעין איתנו ובחר לתקוף אותנו כרעם‬ ‫שהאימוץ של בתיה בת פרעה את משה הוביל לגאולה‪,‬‬
‫פורים‪.‬‬ ‫ביום בהיר‪.‬‬ ‫כך גם האימוץ של מרדכי את אסתר הוביל לגאולה‬
‫בימיו‪.‬‬
‫‪The original derashah can be viewed at or‬‬ ‫התורה מציינת כי עמלק לא היו אומה של לוחמים‬
‫‪http://rechovot.blogspot.com/2009/03/‬‬ ‫כבירים; בזכות התפילה התאוששנו וניצחנו אותם‬ ‫כאשר מרדכי מאמץ את אסתר‪ ,‬הוא מעצב את האופי‬
‫עוד לפני שהם הצליחו להגיע להישג צבאי כלשהו‪.‬‬ ‫שלה לכשתתבגר‪.‬‬
‫‪purim-holiday-of-chesed-derashah-‬‬
‫‪zachor.html or http://bit.ly/9859yl‬‬ ‫ובכל זאת ‪ ,‬התורה מתארת את הניבזות שלהם‬ ‫בזכות שאימץ מרדכי את אסתר ‪ ,‬הוא מסוגל לכוון‬
‫אותה כאשר הפקידים של אחשוורוש נוקשים בדלת‪.‬‬

‫‪Visit us at www.torontotorah.com‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

Shiur in Preview: Megillat Esther
The following kiyum of the mitzvah of Talmud Torah will
be delivered by members of Beit Midrash Zichron Dov
Saturday night at: 7:30 PM at Kensington Place, 8:00PM at
the Thornhill Community Shul, and 9:15pm at Clanton
Park; on Sunday at: 8:00AM at BAYT, 10:30AM at L‟Chaim
Retirement Homes, and 11:00AM at Kensington Place.
Men, women and children are encouraged to attend.
Costumes and greggors welcome.
1,1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus--this is Ahasuerus who
reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and
twenty provinces--1,2 that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle, 1,3 in the third
year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the
army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being
before him; 1,4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and
the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and
fourscore days. 1,5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a
feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both
great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's
palace; 1,6 there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered
with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble;
the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and
white, and shell, and onyx marble. 1,7 And they gave them drink in
vessels of gold--the vessels being diverse one from another--and royal
wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. 1,8 And the
drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had
appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to
every man's pleasure. {S} 1,9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the
women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 1,10 On the
seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he
commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar,
and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of
Ahasuerus the king, 1,11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with
the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she
was fair to look on. 1,12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth,
and his anger burned in him. {S} 1,13 Then the king said to the wise men,
who knew the times--for so was the king's manner toward all that knew
law and judgment; 1,14 and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar,
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of
Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat the first in the
kingdom: 1,15 'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,
forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?' {S} 1,16 And Memucan answered before the king and the
princes: 'Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also
to all the princes, and to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the
king Ahasuerus. 1,17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all
women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will
be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought
in before him, but she came not. 1,18 And this day will the princesses of
Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like
unto all the king's princes. So will there arise enough contempt and
wrath. 1,19 If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment
from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the
Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king
Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is
better than she. 1,20 And when the king's decree which he shall make
shall be published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the
wives will give to their husbands honour, both to great and
small.' 1,21 And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king
did according to the word of Memucan; 1,22 for he sent letters into all the
king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof,
and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule
in his own house, and speak according to the language of his
people. {S} 2,1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was
assuaged, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was
decreed against her. 2,2 Then said the king's servants that ministered
unto him: 'Let there be sought for the king young virgins fair to look
on; 2,3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his
kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto
Shushan the castle, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai
the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their ointments be
given them; 2,4 and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti.' And the thing pleased the king; and he did
Schedule for the Week of February 27, 13 Adar
Monday, March 1
8:30PM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Rambam‟s Hilchot
Talmud Torah, Clanton Park Men
8:30PM Russell Levy: Abortion and Halachah
Tuesday, March 2
11:00AM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Sukkah
(Advanced), Clanton Park Men
1:30PM R‟ Mordechai Torczyner: Trei Asar-The
Twelve Prophets, Shaarei Shomayim
Women, with Mekorot
7:30PM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Shiur in Parsha,
Westmount Men and Women
8:00PM Netanel Javasky: Medical Halachah,
Shaarei Tefillah
8:30PM R‟ Mordechai Torczyner: Minchat
Chinuch, Clanton Park Men
4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim!
so. {S} 2,5 There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, whose name was
Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a
Benjamite, 2,6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the
captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 2,7 And he
brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had
neither father nor mother, and the maiden was of beautiful form and fair to
look on; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her
for his own daughter. 2,8 So it came to pass, when the king's
commandment and his decree was published, and when many maidens
were gathered together unto Shushan the castle, to the custody of Hegai,
that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai,
keeper of the women. 2,9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained
kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her ointments, with her
portions, and the seven maidens, who were meet to be given her out of
the king's house; and he advanced her and her maidens to the best place
in the house of the women. 2,10 Esther had not made known her people
nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell
it. 2,11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. 2,12 Now
when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after
that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve
months--for so were the days of their anointing accomplished, to wit, six
months with oil of myrrh, and six month with sweet odours, and with other
ointments of the women-- 2,13 when then the maiden came unto the king,
whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of
the women unto the king's house. 2,14 In the evening she went, and on the
morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody
of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines; she came
in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were
called by name. 2,15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail
the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to
go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's
chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained
favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 2,16 So Esther was
taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which
is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 2,17 And the king
loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in
his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her
head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 2,18 Then the king made a
great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he
made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty
of the king. 2,19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second
time, and Mordecai sat in the king's gate-- 2,20 Esther had not yet made
known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for
Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought
up with him-- {S} 2,21 in those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate,
two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the
door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king
Ahasuerus. 2,22 And the thing became known to Mordecai, who told it
unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai's
name. 2,23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found
to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book
of the chronicles before the king. {S} 3,1 After these things did king
Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and
advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with
him. 3,2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed
down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor
prostrated himself before him. 3,3 Then the king's servants, that were in
the king's gate, said unto Mordecai: 'Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?' 3,4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him,
and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether
Mordecai's words would stand; for he had told them that he was a
Jew. 3,5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor
prostrated himself before him, then was Haman full of wrath. 3,6 But it
seemed contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
had made known to him the people of Mordecai; wherefore Haman sought
to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of
Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 3,7 In the first month, which is
the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast pur, that
is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the
twelfth month, which is the month Adar. {S} 3,8 And Haman said unto king
Ahasuerus: 'There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed
among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are
diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws;
therefore it profiteth not the king to suffer them. 3,9 If it please the king,
let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents
of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king's
business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.' 3,10 And the king took his
Wednesday, March 3
9:15AM R‟ Mordechai Torczyner, Weekly Torah Class, 239
Franklin, Babysitting provided Women
7:30PM Meir Lipschitz, Ramchal‟s Derech Hashem, Kehillat
Shaarei Torah Men and Women
Thursday, March 4
11:00AM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Sukkah (Advanced),
Clanton Park Men
3:40PM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Hilchot Muktzah (Advanced),
Clanton Park Men
7:00PM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Shiur for Fathers at Or Chaim
8:30PM R‟ Azarya Berzon: Machshavah and Life Issues,
Clanton Park Men
ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
the Jews' enemy. 3,11 And the king said unto Haman: 'The silver is given to thee,
the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.' 3,12 Then were the
king's scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there
was written, according to all that Haman commanded, unto the king's satraps,
and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every
people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people
after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was
sealed with the king's ring.3,13 And letters were sent by posts into all the king's
provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and
old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey. V’nahafoch hu….9,6 And in Shushan the castle the Jews slew and
destroyed five hundred men. {S} 9,7 And {S}Parshandatha,and {S} Dalphon,
and {S} Aspatha, 9,8 and {S} Poratha, and {S} Adalia, and {S} Aridatha, 9,9 and
{S} Parmashta, and {S} Arisai, and {S} Aridai, and {S} Vaizatha, {S} 9,10 the ten
sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy, slew they; but on the
spoil they laid not their hand. 9,11 On that day the number of those that were
slain in Shushan the castle was brought before the king. 9,12 And the king said
unto Esther the queen: 'The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in
Shushan the castle, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the
rest of the king's provinces! Now whatever thy petition, it shall be granted thee;
and whatever thy request further, it shall be done.' 9,13 Then said Esther: 'If it
please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow
also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon
the gallows.' 9,14 And the king commanded it so to be done; and a decree was
given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. 9,15 And the Jews that
were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the
month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid
not their hand. 9,16 And the other Jews that were in the king's provinces
gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their
enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand--but on
the spoil they laid not their hand-- 9,17 on the thirteenth day of the month Adar,
and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting
and gladness. 9,18 But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the
thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of
the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and
gladness. 9,19 Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled
towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and
feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 9,20 And
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all
the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 9,21 to enjoin them that
they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of
the same, yearly, 9,22 the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies,
and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from
mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and
gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the
poor. 9,23 And the Jews took upon them to do as they had begun, and as
Mordecai had written unto them; 9,24 because Haman the son of Hammedatha,
the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy
them, and had cast pur, that is, the lot, to discomfit them, and to destroy
them; 9,25 but when she came before the king, he commanded by letters that
his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon
his own head; and that he and his sons should be hanged on the
gallows. 9,26 Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of pur.
Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen
concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them, 9,27 the Jews
ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined
themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two
days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time
thereof, every year; 9,28 and that these days should be remembered and kept
throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and
that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial
of them perish from their seed. {S} 9,29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of
Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote down all the acts of power, to confirm this
second letter of Purim. 9,30 And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred
twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace
and truth, 9,31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times,
according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as
they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings
and their cry. 9,32 And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of
Purim; and it was written in the book. {S} 10,1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a
tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. 10,2 And all the acts of his
power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, how
the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Media and Persia? 10,3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king
Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his
brethren; seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his
seed. {P}
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