Esther the Queen, Hester Prynne, and The Scarlet Letter as Biblical Commentary
Tzvi Sinensky explores the hidden world of Esther with the help of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Purim and Paul: The Torah Veiled and Unveiled
What do Paul, Purim costumes, and Purim torah all have in common? Yehuda Fogel delves into the meaning of hiddenness and its role in revelation on Purim.
The Accidental Iniquity of Amalek
In a fascinating analysis, Gavriel Lakser places the Megillah in the context of the overarching struggle between the Jewish people and Amalek.
Joy at Last: Reflections on the End of Esther
Erica Brown explores the deeper meaning of joy in Megillat Esther and beyond.
Puritan Purim
How did Esther shape the way Puritans saw the ideal role of the contemporary woman? Cotton Mather, a major player in the Salem Witch Trials, had much to say in his Ornaments for the Daughters of Zion. Stuart Halpern of Yeshiva University explains, wishing us all a Puritan Purim.
The Upside-Down Search for Hametz
Eli Genauer explores the profound impact of a printing error on the halakhot of Pesah.
R. Eliezer Berkovits’ Faith and Freedom Passover Haggadah
Ross Singer reviews the Faith and Freedom R. Eliezer Berkovits Haggadah, compiled by Reuven Mohl.
An Obligation of Sight: Depictions of Suffering in the Haggadah
Ranana Dine explores the depictions of suffering in haggadot.
Rahab, Jeremiah, and the Story of Purim
Shimon Lerner uncovers a surprising but profound message that goes to the very heart of the Purim story.
Vashti: Feminist or Foe?
Tzvi Sinensky contends that the rabbinic and feminist readings of Vashti are not diametrically opposed.
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