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10 Questions For Purim Seudah



		TODAY'S MESSAGE IS DEDIICATED IN MEMORY OF LEAH BAT ESTRELLA A'H BY HER CHILDREN DAVID AND SALLY WAHBA JOIN OUR COMMUNITY IN PRAYER TA-ANEET ESTHER THIS THURSDAY AT YOUR OWN SHUL AT MINHAH TIME WITH YOUR RABBI AND YOUR CONGREGATION AT THE SAME TIME AS ALL THE OTHER CONGREGATIONS PRAY FOR MERCY AS THEY DID IN THE TIMES OF ESTHER CHECK YOUR SHUL'S SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND A LITTLE FUN FOR PURIM PRINT AND SAVE! 1. QUESTION: In what year of the Jewish calendar did Purim occur? 2. QUESTION: How many wars between Bnei Yisrael and Amalek are mentioned in Tanach? 3. QUESTION: How many mishtaot, or parties, are mentioned in the Megillah? 4. QUESTION: How many people were hanged in the course of the Megillah? 5. QUESTION: On what day did Haman make the "Pur"? 6. QUESTION: If you rearrange the letters of "Shushan", what does it spell? 7. QUESTION: What does the word "Pat-shegen" mean? 8. QUESTION: Why didn't Esther tell Achashveirosh which nation she was from? 9. QUESTION: Instead of blatantly not bowing to him, why didn't Mordechai simply avoid Haman and not go near him? 10. QUESTION: In addition to his plan to kill all the Jews, what edicts did Haman immediately issue against them? AND HERE ARE THE ANSWERS!! ANSWER1: According to Yalkut Meam Loez, Achashveirosh came to power in the year 3392, and Haman was hung in 3404. ANSWER2: Actually, there were at least eleven (11) battles with Amalek in Tanach, in one form or another. In the Torah--3 BATTLES: a) Shemot 17: 8 and Devarim 25:17; b) Bemidbar 14:45; and c) Bemidbar 21:1 and 33:40. In Neviim--6 BATTLES : a) Shoftim 3:13; b) Shoftim 6:3; c) Shoftim 6:33; d) Shemuel Aleph 14:48; e) Shemuel Aleph 15:3; f) Shemuel Aleph 30:1 In Ketuvim--2 BATTLES: a) Divre HaYamim Aleph 4:43…and of course b) MEGILLAT ESTHER! It is clear that this nation has really been out to get us--but in the end we will prevail! ANSWER3: Five--a) the Mishte of Achashveirosh; b)the separate Mishte of Vashti; c) the Mishte made by Achashveirosh when Esther became queen; d) the first Mishte among Esther, Achashveirosh and Haman; e)the next day--the second Mishte among Esther, Achashveirosh and Haman. If that isn't enough, the Megillah separately records that Haman and Achashveirosh sat down separately simply "to drink" when the King's initial order against the Jews was sent out (Esther 3:15)! ANSWER4: 13--Haman, his ten sons, Bigstn, and Teresh. ANSWER5: The 13th day of Nisan (see Rashi to Mesechta Megillah 15A and Malbim to Esther 3:7). ANSWER6: "Sasson"--or happiness! ANSWER7: Rashi and the Ibn Ezra write that Patshegen means: the text, the nussach, the content. Artscroll translates it as "copies" (of the document containing the decree). ANSWER8: The easy answer is, because Mordechai instructed her not to--as the Pasuk clearly states (Esther 2:20). As to the reason for Mordechai's instruction, various explanations are given--including a recognition by Mordechai that perhaps some disaster was going to threaten Kelal Yisrael and her royal position would be the means of their salvation--identifying herself now as a Jew could mean an early end to her position. The Gemara (Megillah 13B) additionally indicates that, even if there was not an absolute directive by Mordechai to hide her identity, Esther herself did not want to reveal to Achashveirosh her royal ancestry (she was a descendent of Shaul HaMelech)--because of her tzniut and anavah. ANSWER9: There are various explanations for this. The Chafetz Chaim learns that Mordechai was correcting the mistake of his ancestor Shaul HaMelech, who had compassion on Haman's ancestor, the King of Amalek--Agag. As a result of this misplaced pity, Haman was eventually born and issued his evil edicts. Mordechai, therefore, was unyielding, and stood up to Haman like a pillar of iron refusing to give even an inch for the sake of the honor of Heaven and the honor of Klal Yisrael. ANSWER10: Chazal (Megillah 16B) teach us what the other edicts were from the Pasuk "LaYehudim Hayeta Orah…" (Esther 8:16): The additional decrees included prohibiting the study of Torah, the observance of Yom Tov, performing a Brit Milah and the wearing of Tefillin. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEDICATE A MESSAGE IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE? REFUAH SHELEMA? Click Here to go to the 'Donations' area, or E-mail your dedication to RBEYDA2000@AOL.COM . You can Mail your check for: $101 - Shabbat And Holidays $52 - Weekdays Mail To: Raymond Beyda 408 Avenue O Brooklyn, NY 11230