Purim Essays

[Reuven Chaim Klein]

Here are the many essays in the What's in a Word? series that I wrote for Parshas Zachor/Purim over the years:

• Remember Forever - About זכור and פקוד.
• Party Hardy - About משתה, מסיבה, סעודה.
• Playing the Lottery - About גורל, פור, פייס, and חולש.
• To Remain Silent - About שתיקה, דום, חשה, and הס.
• Fake Faces - About מסכה, מסוה, and פרצוף.
• Heavy Honors - About כבוד and יקר.
• Between Books and Scrolls - About מגילה, אגרת, מחזור, and קונטרס.
• Pick your Poison - About רעל, עכס, ראש, ארס, חמת, and לענה.
• Do the Din - About דת and דין.
• For Crying Out Loud - About צעקה and זעקה.
• Words for Wine (Part 1 | Part 2) - About יין, תירוש, חמר, שכר, סבא, מלאה, דמעה, עסיס, and סמדר.
• Speedy Horsepower  (Part 1 | Part 2)  - About סוס, רכש, אחשתרן, and רמך.
• Myrrh & Myrtle (Part 1 | Part 2) - About מרדכי, פתחיה, מלאכי. | About אסתר, הדסה.

Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer Shiurim related to the story of Purim (available on many platforms including: YouTube, Google Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, TorahDownloads, OUTorah.org, Archive.org):

• Episode 103: Chapter 49a - The Story of Purim = King Saul pities Agag, king of Amalek / Leaving over Amalekite animals for ritual sacrifices / Amalekite sorcerers use magic to turn into animals / Riding a human donkey in the marketplace / Agag is an ancestor of Haman; Shaul, of Mordechai / Who will defeat Amalek (Binyamin, Yosef, Rachel)? / Shmuel HaNavi kills Agag and makes a comment about childless women / Eisav's opposition to Jewish Women / All the Matriarchs descend from Haran / A gnat in Titus' skull / Nebuchadnezzar the Midget
• Episode 104: Chapter 49b - The Story of Purim = Calculating how long Nebuchadnezzar reigned (40, 43, or 45 years) / Calculating 70 years of the Babylonian Exile / Babylonians -> Medians -> Persians -> Greeks / What about Cambyses and the hidden years? / Achashverosh's opulent party / Vashti is killed on Yom Kippur / When was the 180-day party (Summer or Winter)? / Vashti refuses to join the party naked / Memuchan = Daniel or Haman
• Episode 105: Chapter 50a - The Story of Purim = Mordechai the quintessential Jew / Expounding Mordechai's names (Ben Yair, Ben Shimi, Ben Kish, Ish Yemini, Malachi, Bilshan) / Mordechai = Merodach = Marduk / Mordechai discovers plot against Achashverosh / Yosef's buried treasure / The Chaldean Language (Akkadian?) / Haman rises to power and plans his Final Solution / Haman Draws Lots (Month, Day, Week) / Mordechai & Esther plan for Hashem's salvation / Not relying on the miracle of Shemen HaMishchah (oil of annointing) / Why is fasting better than eating matzo?
• Episode 106: Chapter 50b - The Story of Purim = Haman's son Shimshai the Scribe / Achashverosh wants to reward Mordechai / Hatred in the Heart / Giving a king's honor to Mordechai / Haman grooms Mordechai & serves as his foot stool / Esther's party with Haman & Achashverosh / Charvonah = Eliyahu HaNavi / How many sons did Haman have? / Mordechai becomes a mini-king / What was on the coin minted by Mordechai? 

My next book on avodah zarah (God vs. Gods Volume 2) is currently under construction (Donate Now | View Promotional Clip) 

Happppy Purim!!!!

Reuven Chaim Klein

Beitar Illit, Israel

Books | Articles | Lectures (YouTube) | Book Reviews