Purim

Jews have a unique relationship with food. It goes beyond bagels and kishke. Get a unique spiritual perspective on the Jewish relationship with food from Rabbi Simon Jacobson.

Joy in Four Dimensions: Purim

On Purim the Jew attains the ultimate in joy: not only is his joy not qualified by any reason or objective, it is free even of the objective to be joyous. He is so consumed with joy that he is oblivious to all, including the fact that he is rejoicing…

Emerging Purim Patterns: The Connection Between Purim and the 2003 Persian Gulf War

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Rabbi Simon Jacobson, author of the best-selling “Toward a Meaningful Life’, explores the connection between Purim and the Gulf War of 2003 and the Gulf War of 1991. Connect the dots of history.

Emerging Purim Patterns: The Connection Between Purim and the War in Ukraine

Rabbi Simon Jacobson explores the connection between Purim and the current Russia-Ukraine War. Connect the dots of history.

The Thousand-Year Difference: The Mitzvot of Purim

Purim revealed a new dimension to our observance of Torah, establishing it as a freely-elected way of life, as opposed to a set of compelling duties. And this thousand-year difference is reflected in several of the mitzvot of Purim.

The Inner Courtyard

Therein lies the deeper significance of the above-quoted lines, spoken by Queen Esther to Mordechai. Generally speaking, there is an array of laws that govern who may enter into the “inner courtyard” and under what circumstances.

Purim: Ani Yehudi

Weekly Op-Ed •March 5th, 2015• 3 Comments

Ani Yehudi is not only an affirmation of Mordechai’s behavior in the times of Purim, and of the behavior of Jews throughout the millennia, but it adds a new dimension: that even the nations of the world embrace the Yehudi principle.

Love in the Ice Age

On Tevet 10th of the year 3336 from creation (426 B.C.E.) we were plunged into a winter from which we have yet to emerge. On that day, Babylon’s armies laid siege to Jerusalem.

Beyond the Moon

The significance of the lunar and solar calendars is explained as related to Haman’s fateful choice of the month of Adar for the Jews’ destruction.

Joy in Four Dimensions

The Torah teaches us that joy should be a constant in life. However, there are multiple degrees of joy. What are they?

A Feast and a Fast

Insight from the Talmud provides the framework for this examination of the decreed annihilation of the Jews of the Persian Empire.

The Young and the Fearless

Even when the elders’ belief is clouded the children’s faith can carry us through difficult times.

Beyond the Moon

The Jewish holiday of Purim teaches us how the Jewish people compare to the moon; we have the capacity for change and renewal like the moon wanes and waxes.

Knowledge and Naught

Drinking until one does not know the difference between Haman and Mordechai on Purim is explored in conjunction with the concept of the tzaddik versus the baal teshuvah.

In Search of Eden

There are many angles to understand the war in Iraq. But the true war today is driven by the angst of man in search of Eden. This is an essay on the connection between redemption, the Persian gulf, and Purim.

Oil and Wine

Chanukah is commemorated with oil. On Purim we celebrate with wine.

A Feast and a Fast: The Fast of Esther

With their joy the Jews rejected their uniqueness as a nation under the special protection of G-d. To save the Jews Esther knew they had to reconnect to G-d

A Purim Poem

A Purim poem by Rabbi Simon Jacobson.

Cosmic Sleep

Achashveirosh’s sleepless night set in motion a series of events that led to Mordechai’s rise, Haman’s downfall, and the salvation of the people of Israel.

Purim Torah – Dip ’n Sip

The purpose of drinking on Purim..

A Roll of Dice: The Purim Lots

Purim derives its name from the lots cast by Haman. It is not some incidental detail but the single event that most expresses what Purim represents.

A Singular People: Jewish Uniqueness

Purim celebrates the salvation of a singular people: Torah, the festivals, circumcision and tefillin are symbols of Jewish uniqueness.

Beyond Structure

Purim: It’s not our logic & plans that run the world but a higher force that may manifest in random experiences within which lies the greatest power of all.

Purim: Joy on Demand?

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Purim is a day of joyous abandon that transcends conventional boundaries. It is a day when a window opens up that allows us deep inside of ourselves.

The Angel and the Drunk

On Yom Kippur we fast and pray, on Purim we party. Yet the Zohar sees the two days as intrinsically similar.

Seven Steps to a Spiritually Intoxicated Purim

Be your true self this Purim and experience intoxicated joy! Learn how in seven steps.

WYSINWYG: The Story Behind the Story

It is time to celebrate the inside out world of Purim, where the obvious is not obvious and the not obvious is obvious.

Purim: Middle East Revisited