MEGILLAS ESTHER
How did Bigson and Seresh plan on killing Achashverosh (Rashi)?
Giving him poison to drink.
How was Esther related to Mordechai?
cousin
Who is obligated to hear the מגילה?
Everyone.
Children must be old enough to not disturb.
What should you do when you enter the month of אדר?
Increase your שמחה!!!
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 competition contestants spend preparing in the בית הנשים?
12 months:
:שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמֹּ֔ר וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַנָּשִֽׁים
Who was התך and what happened to him?
Doniel
He was killed by Homon after he became suspicious that Hasach was passing messages to Esther.
How many Brochos do we say on the מגילה?
What should we have in mind?
3
The 4 mitzvos of the day.
What is the date of Shushan Purim?
15th Adar
How high were the gallows?
50 אמות
70 days
חידא - there are 70 פסוקים from his promotion to his death.
מנות הלוי - the gematria of כן is 70.
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.
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.
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.
How many times is Haman's name mentioned in the Megillah?
A. 32
B. 54
C. 118
D. 62
B. 54.
How much did Homon offer to buy the Jewish people?
What is the equivalent value today?
10,000 pieces of silver
roughly £600,000,000
Who was Mordechai's father, zeide and alter zeide?
What tribe was he from?
Who was Esthers Father?
Ben Yoir, Ben Shimi, Ben kish
Binyomin
Avichayil
How many pesukim are read aloud by the צבור during the reading of the Megillah?
4
אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה
וּמָרְדֳּכַ֞י יָצָ֣א ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ
לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָֽיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה
(the last posuk) כִּ֣י ׀ מָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֗י
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 happens if the בעל קורא takes a breath when saying the 10 sons of המן?
Nothing...
It is a מנהג
When המן picked the גורל, he had numbers 1-12 representing months and 1-354 representing days. What number did he pick? (+/-1)
337
Which of the following people is NOT a character in the Megillah?
A. שעשגז
B. הגא
C. אספתא
D. חשבדנה
חשבדנה
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)
What is פורים קטן?
When there is a leap year and a double אדר, the 14th day of אדר ראשון is פורים קטן.
When was המן hanged?
16th on Nissan