(Leviticus: 6:1-8:36)

(Shmuel I, 15:1-34)

(Parshat Zachor, Fast of Esther, Purim)

1. During the time when there was a Temple service in Jerusalem, people, and especially Kohanim, were constantly aware of their own purity or impurity. They had to ask themselves whether they could enter places on the Temple Mount, or eat trumah, or even touch certain foods and vessels. Since one of our religious goals is to be less selfish, isn’t this self-involvement with purity and impurity counter-productive?

2. [Shmuel I, 15:9] “And Shaul and the people spared Agag…” Shaul was a wealthy king and he was specifically told that God commanded him to destroy all of Amalek. He meticulously carried out most of the commandment. What was Shaul thinking that caused him to spare the king of Amalek and other things.

3. [Megillah of Purim 4:16] Esther asks that the Jewish people fast for her for 3 days in order that she should be successful when she goes into the king. How will the fasting of the Jewish people help Esther?

4. [Purim] Purim seems to us to be the festival which is most suitable for children. However, our tradition tells us that Purim is one of our most important and serious festivals. Why is Purim so important, and why has it been made into such a “fun” festival?

5. [Megillah of Purim 10:3] “Because Mordechai…was accepted by most of his brothers…” Mordechai had done so much to save the Jewish people. Why is it that he was accepted by most of his brothers, and not by all of them?

Commentary

Leviticus 6:13: “…a tenth of an ephah of fine-flour for a meal offering…”

A regular Kohen brought a meal-offering only on the day that he began his work in the mishkan. However the High Priest brought a meal-offering every day. What does this difference suggest to us?

Someone who is on a higher spiritual level– his service is new every day. Every day is like his first day, and it is as if he is born anew.

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Bella bat Yitzchak Kummer, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer