
- Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom
- Date:
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Nach:Parsha:
- Duration: 34 min
The critical catalyst for the story of Purim is Mordekhai's refusal, as a member of Ahashverosh's court, to show obeisance to Haman. The text never explicates the rationale behind this decision, in spite of its centrality to the plot. We survey some common answers given and suggest possible challenges to each - and then propose a new answer which impacts on our reading of the entire story, up to and including the climactic war that takes place 11 months after Haman's decree is formulated.
Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Eric Goldstein in loving memory of his father Louis Goldstein, Yehudah Leib ben Nattan Noteh and by the Goldberg and Mernick Families to mark the yahrzeit of Samuel M. Goldberg, R’ Shmuel Meir ben R’ Eliyahu HaCohen z”l and by Francine Lashinsky and Dr. Alexander and Meryl Weingarten in memory of Samuel Wininger, Yisachar Hersch ben Menachem Mendel, z"l to mark his yahrzeit on the 3rd of Sivan and in honor of their children, Mark, Michael, Julie, Marnie and Michelle, and in the zechut of the hostages and the chayalim
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