(Numbers: 27:21- 30-10)

 (Purim)

1. [Parsha] This parsha, which tells mainly about the clothing of the High Priest, is the only parsha after the birth of Moshe which does not mention Moshe. Why is Moshe not mentioned?

2. [Purim] On Purim, we are commanded to hear every word of Megillat Esther. On Shabbat, we are NOT commanded to hear every word of the Torah reading. Why is the megillah reading different from the Shabbat reading?

3. On Purim, we are told that we should give charity to every person who asks—who puts out his or her hand. During the rest of the year, we are allowed to check people to see if they deserve the charity, but on Purim we are not permitted to question people in this way. Why is Purim different from the rest of the year in relation to charity?

4. The mitzvah of Mishloach manot is to give 2 foods—ready-to-eat—to at least 1 person. If a person lives in Jerusalem, he celebrates Purim on the 15 of Adar, while others celebrate a day earlier on the 14 of Adar. Should a person in Jerusalem send Mishloach manot to someone outside Jerusalem on the 14 of Adar, or on the 15?

5. There is a midrash (in Yalkut Shimoni) which says that Haman’s descendants are teaching Torah to children in Bnei Brak. How does this idea fit into the themes of Purim?

Commentary

[Esther 2:11] “And each and every day Mordechai  walked in front of the yard of the women’s house to know how Esther was doing…”

Mordechai went to check on Esther every day for 4 or 5 years. This is really an amazing thing.  Mordechai, the tzaddik, did this because Esther was an orphan, and she was in distress. And because of the merit of his kindness and his concern,  Heaven sent miracles and Haman was beaten.

— Sfat Emet,  R. Yehuda Arieh Leib Alter of Gur (1855-1905)

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Gad Eliahu ben David and Kochava–Eli Zucker

And to the memory of Sarah Beila Kummer bat Yitzchak and Chana, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer