The most well-known Jewish holiday is probably either Passover or Hanukkah. Passover is prescribed in the Bible, while Hanukkah commemorates events that happened after the Hebrew Bible was written.

This year, the festival is extended to three days in walled cities – adding the day before and the day after – giving rise to what is commonly known as Purim Meshulash, or “triple Purim.” ...

Esther and Mordechai writing the second letter of Purim, painted by Arent de Gelder. (photo credit: Rhode Island School of Design Museum/Wikimedia Commons) The desire for revenge is compelling ...

Which leadership style is the best example for American Jews today? Esther clearly has the edge in Purim costumes, but Vashti’s stock is on the rise in Jewish feminist literature. Vashti’s is ...

The Jewish calendar offers one answer. Thursday is Ta’anit Esther, a sunrise-to-sunset fast day that takes place every year before the Purim holiday. The fast commemorates Queen Esther’s fas ...

Purim shows a path where omitting an explicit God reference creates space for both believers and skeptics to find their own meaning. Esther, a Jewish orphan, conceals her identity and becomes ...

Purim is the celebration of Jews' salvation from slaughter by the Persian empire thanks to the bravery of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai (more on them later). Purim is one of the most fun ...

Purim 5647/1887). The Sfat Emet further explains that this is why Esther delayed the request to send the second set of letters from the 13th of Nissan until the 23rd of Sivan. The hanging of Haman ...

An abbreviated Purim tale informs us how Mordechai (Esther’s cousin who raised her after she was orphaned), refused to bow to Haman, who held a high-ranking position in King Ahasuerus’ court.