EVENTS IN
MEGILLAS ESTHER
MEGILLAS ESTHER
How many times is Haman's name mentioned in the Megillah?
A. 50
B. 54
C. 58
D. 62
B. 54.
That's a lot of noise!!!
How was Esther related to Mordechai?
Niece/cousin
What are the minimum amounts for משלוח מנות and מתנות לאביונים
For משלוח מנות two gifts to one friend.
For מתנות לאביונים two gifts to two poor people.
What is the date of Shushan Purim?
15th Adar
Why do we dress up on Purim? Give at least 2 answers.
1. There was a major transformation in the Purim story- ונהפוך הוא so we transform ourselves by wearing a costume.
2. Hashem appeared to be hidden from the story and His name is not mentioned, so we hide ourselves in a costume (Bnei Yissaschar)
3. To minimise embarrassment of those collecting Tzedaka (Minhagei Kol Yaakov).
4. To commemorate Mordechai dressing up in royal clothes (Shalmei Todah).
How long did the beauty pageant contestants spend preparing for the competition?
12 months:
:שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמֹּ֔ר וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַנָּשִֽׁים
Which of the following people is NOT a character in the Megillah?
A. שעשגז
B. הגא
C. אספתא
D. חשבדנה
D. חשמונא
What are the earliest and latest times one can read the Megillah on Purim day?
Earliest time הנץ החמה
In extenuating circumstances one can be יוצא from עלות השחר
Latest time is שקיעה
Name one scenario in which Taanis Esther is NOT the day before Purim.
1. When Purim is on Sunday, Taanis Esther is on Thursday.
2. During most years in Yerushalayim, Taanis Esther is at least 2 days before [Shushan] Purim.
Yom Kippur is called "Yom Kippurim"- a day like Purim. How is Yom Kippur similar to Purim?
At the end of both, someone is likely to have passed out.
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Why were the Jewish people still in danger of annihilation after Haman was hanged?
Because a decree that is written in the name of the king and signed with the royal signet ring cannot be rescinded.
:כִּֽי־כְתָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־נִכְתָּ֣ב בְּשֵׁם־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם בְּטַבַּ֥עַת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵ֥ין לְהָשִֽׁיב
וגם חרבונה זכור לטוב
What good thing is Charvona remembered for?
He suggested that Haman be hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordechai.
If the בעל קורא already fulfilled the mitzvah of מגילה, who recites the ברכות?
One of the people listening recites the ברכות. If they do not know how to say the ברכות then the בעל קורא can say them himself, or help the listeners say them word by word.
What is פורים משולש?
When Purim falls on Shabbos in Yerushalayim (e.g. 2 years ago), they celebrate three days of Purim: On Friday they read the Megillah and give מתנות לאביונים, on Shabbos they read a special מפטיר and הפטרה for Purim and on Sunday they give משלוח מנות, dress up and have a סעודה.
What are Hamantashen called in Ivrit?
אזני המן
"Literally "Haman's ears
On which day of the year was Haman hanged?
The 2nd day of Pesach.
The name Mordechai is actually derived from the Persian name Marduk. what was Mordechai's actual Hebrew name?
Psachya פתחיה
(See מסכת שקלים פרק ה משנה א)
Which pesukim are read aloud by the צבור during the reading of the Megillah?
אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה
וּמָרְדֳּכַ֞י יָצָ֣א ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ
לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָֽיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה
(the last posuk) כִּ֣י ׀ מָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֗י
When are the next two times Purim will fall on Friday?
Next time will be in 2025 תשפ"ה
After that there will be a 20 YEAR HIATUS until
2045 תת"ה
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Where are Mordechai and Esther buried?
Hamadan, Iran
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How was Esther permitted to be married to Achashverosh?
Esther was passive in this act, she didn't do it willingly. This is why she was so hesitant to approach the king without being asked.
Although normally גילוי עריות is a case of יהרג ועל יעבור, the נודע ביהודה explains that here Esther was permitted to do it since she was effectively saving the entire nation.
Mordechai encouraged Esther to approach the king for this reason.
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Name all 10 sons of Haman!
Bonus points if you say them all in one breath!!!
וְאֵ֧ת ׀ פַּרְשַׁנְדָּ֛תָא וְאֵ֥ת ׀ דַּֽלְפ֖וֹן וְאֵ֥ת ׀ אַסְפָּֽתָא:
וְאֵ֧ת ׀ פּוֹרָ֛תָא וְאֵ֥ת ׀ אֲדַלְיָ֖א וְאֵ֥ת ׀ אֲרִידָֽתָא:
וְאֵ֤ת ׀ פַּרְמַ֨שְׁתָּא֙ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ אֲרִיסַ֔י וְאֵ֥ת ׀ אֲרִדַ֖י וְאֵ֥ת ׀ וַיְזָֽתָא:
Why do we not say Hallel on Purim?
1. The miracle occurred outside of Eretz Yisroel
2. The Megillah is itself a form of Hallel
3. אכתי עבדי אחשורוש אנן - Even after being saved, the יהודים were still under the rule of Achashverosh
In which year did the very first Purim take place?
3405
or 356 BCE
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Yom Kippur is called "Yom Kippurim"- a day like Purim. why is it that Yom Kippur has a day of feasting followed by a fast day, but Purim has a fast day followed by a day of feasting?
The Chiddushei HaRim explains:
The Yetzer Hara can trick you into thinking that you are not sincere while fasting if you are partying right before or right after. The lesson is that Hashem gives us opportunities for both, and one is not in contradiction to another.
וְהָסֵר שָׂטָן מִלְּפָנֵֽינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵֽינוּ
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