Names
What does the name "Purim" mean?
Lots (lottery)
How many times is Hashem's name mentioned in the Gemara?
Bonus 50 points: Significance?
Zero
Significance: hidden miracles, Even when we don't realise it, and even when it doesn't seem so - Hashem is always there, running the show, making events happen the way they are supposed to.
The four Mem Mitzvos of Purim are:
- Megillah
- Mishloach Manot
- Matanot LeEvyonim
- Mishteh
At what point in the Megillah does the Baal Koreh raise his voice?
Balayla Hahu!
According to the Midrash, where did Haman find a piece of wood tall enough to (try and) hang Mordechai?
Midrash Rabbah says that Haman found the 50-amah beam of wood that came from Noach's Teivah, and wanted to use that to hang Mordechai. And then he himself was hanged on that tree!
Charvonah
How many "Mishtaos" - parties, are mentioned in the Megillah?
BONUS: 100 points if you can list them all.
1) Mishteh of Achashverosh for all of Persia
2) Additional 7 day Mishte for Shushan
3) Mishteh made by Achashverosh when Esther becomes queen
4) First Mishteh Esther makes for Achashverosh and Haman
5) Second Mishteh Esther makes for Achashverosh and Haman
6) the Mishteh that Haman and Achashverosh sat down to to celebrate when the original order against the Jews was sent out (3:15)
What Tefillah do we add in Benching and Shemoneh Esrei on Purim?
BONUS: 100 points. How many words are there, and what is the significance?
Al HaNissim.
BONUS: 68 words. Gematria of Chaim. We thank Hashem for the life He granted us at that time, and for now and forever!
On Chanukah we spin from above, on Purim we spin from below.
Explain the statement above and its significance.
On Chanukah we spin the dreidel (spin from the top), on Purim, we twirl the gragger (hold it from below).
Chanukah was an open, revealed miracle, where Hashem made all these amazing nissim happen there completely against the laws of nature: the oil lasting for 8 days, giborim beyad chalashim, etc. = top down approach. = Isarusa D'le'eilah
Purim is all about hidden miracles, Hashem operating through Tevah, and of course only after we ourselves did Teshuvah and proved worthy of salvation. = bottom up aproach = Isarusa D'lesata.
The longest word in Tanach is found in Megillas Esther. What is it?
וְהָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִים
11 letters
9:3
What was the name for the particular Halacha that Mordechai was teaching, when Haman came in to tell him that he was going to be honoured by the king, dress in his royal robes and ride on his horse?
On what day did Haman make the "Pur"?
13th of Nissan (Rashi, mesechta megillah 15a)
What are the dates for?
- Taanis Esther
- Purim
- Shushan Purim
- Purim in Yerushalayim (and walled cities from the times of Yehoshua)
- Taanis Esther: 13th Adar
- Purim: 14th Adar
- Shushan Purim: 15th Adar
- Purim in Yerushalayim: 15th Adar
What is the name of the two special foods we eat on Purim?
Significance of the name of one of them?
Why do we eat it?
Kreplach and Hamantashen
"man taschen" = poppyseed pockets
In order to keep her Jewish identity hidden, Esther was forced to be a vegetarian in the Palace, eating lots of nuts, seeds and legumes to remain healthy.
Kreplach: meat hidden in white dough. Hashem's Gevurah concealed by Chessed. Hidden miracles.
Where is there a hint to Haman in the Torah?
Bonus 100 points: Connection?
From Bereishis 3:11
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ כִּ֥י עֵירֹ֖ם אָ֑תָּה הֲמִן־הָעֵ֗ץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י אֲכׇל־מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אָכָֽלְתָּ׃
“Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of the tree from which I had forbidden you to eat?”
Connection: Adam and Chava literally had everything in the world available to them, apart from this one tree - and yet they couldn't handle not being able to eat from it, and thus sinned. Haman had everything he could have possibly desired: fame, fortune, wife, kids, etc - and yet he couldn't handle the fact that one person did not bow down to him: Mordechai, which eventually led to his downfall.
Provide alternative names for:
- Esther
- Haman
- Achashverosh
- Mordechai
- Esther = Hadassah
- Haman = Memuchan
- Achashverosh = Artachshasta ארתחששתא
- Mordechai = Pesachya
What date was Haman hanged?
What date were his 10 sons hanged?
Haman: 2nd day Pesach, 16th nissan
Sons: almost a year later, 14th Adar
Provide 4 different criteria for Mishloach Manos:
1) Two different foods (does not need to be different brochos)
2) Must be ready to eat
3) Must be given during the day of Purim
4) Customary to use a third-party messenger, because Mishloach means sending (ie: not giving).
Provide 4 reasons why we dress up on Purim:
1) Esther hid her Jewish identity.
2) Story of Purim was all about hidden miracles, Hashem working behind the scenes.
3) We dress differently on Purim to minimise embarassing the poor who go around collecting Tzedakah on this day.
4) To commemorate Mordechai dressing up in Achashverosh's royal garments.
In addition to his plan to kill all the Jews in year's time from when Achashverosh signed the decree, what edicts did Haman immediately issue against them, and where is the hint to this in the Megillah?
Bonus 50 points: What would the Rebbe do when this Passuk was read in the megillah?
Megillah 16b:
לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָֽיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וִיקָֽר׃
The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor.
1) Orah = Torah. Not allowed to learn Torah.
2) Simcha = Shabbos and Yom Tov. Not allowed to celebrate Shabbos and Yomim Tovim.
3) Sasson = Bris Milah. No circumcisions allowed.
4) Yikar = Tefillin. No Tefillin allowed.
Bonus: Touch his tefillin shel rosh when saying "veyikar".
What was the name of Achashverosh's royal horse, that Mordechai rode, led by Haman?
Shifrigaz
Approximately how many years did Purim occur before Chanukah? (10 years leeway either side)
Approximately 216 years (Targum Sheini)
What are the five verses we read out loud during Megillah?
1) Ish Yehudi (2:5)
2) U'Mordechai Yatzah (8:15)
3) LaYehudim (8:16)
4) Ki Mordechai (10:3)
5) 10 sons of Haman - in one breath (9:7-9)
List 5 things that are customarily done, to "wipe out the memory of Amalek", associated with Purim.
1) Parshat Zachor, the Shabbos before Purim.
2) Megillah - reading about Haman being wiped out (descendant of Amalek)
3) Gragger/loud noise, to drown out the name of Haman
4) Stamping feet with Amalek/Haman written on bottom of shoes
5) Shoshanas Yaakov: "Arur Haman, Arur Zeresh" (referring not just to them, but all the enemies of the Yidden, spiritual and physical)
Provide 6 instances of Midah Kneged Midah in the Megillah:
1) Vashti made the Jewish girls who were her slaves, work for her unclothed - so she was ordered to come before the king unclothed.
2) Haman was hanged on the tree he prepared for Mordechai.
3) Bisan and Seresh wanted to kill the king, so they were killed.
4) The Yidden ate and drank at Achashverosh's party, so they were forced to fast for three days.
5) Haman wanted everyone to bow before him and was desperate to lord it over Mordechai, and in the end was forced to honour Mordechai and lead him through the streets of Shushan on the king's horse.
6) Mordechai put on sackcloth and ashes after Haman's evil decrees, and in the end took over Haman's position and wore royal robes and a large crown.