MHA-FYOS Dean's Blog

To see this article online, click  here . Shoshanat Ya’akov :  Seeing Mordechai through Rose-Colored Glasses Shoshanat Ya’akov / Tzahala Ve’Samecha / Bir’otam Yachad / Techelet Mordechai. The rose of Jacob / was cheerful and glad /  when they jointly saw / Mordechai robed in royal blue. A Jewish liturgical poet ( paytan ), of unknown identity and time, wrote this line towards the end of his piyyut , Asher Heini .[1] Despite its shroud of anonymity, Asher Heini is recited in Ashkenazic communities on Purim night immediately following the after-blessing on the Megillah-reading.[2] Shoshanat Ya’akov is recited again after the daytime reading.[3] What critically important message does Shoshanat Ya’akov convey that demands such prominent placement in the Megillah-reading service? Piyyutim reinforce and elucidate lessons from Tanach and other authentic Jewish sources. The best piyyutim succinctly recast these foundational ideas by borrowing phrases, l...

We know that Megilat Esther is the record of the miraculous saving of the Jewish People that occurred in Shushan and in the surrounding areas of King Achashverosh’s reign. One of the culminating themes in the megila is the unity within the Jewish People that was forged as a result of this miracle. This unity expressed itself in a number of ways. One of the expressions was the re-acceptance of the Torah that occurred in that generation – kiyemu ve’kibelu . This re-acceptance included a unified acceptance of the mitzvah of Purim that was legislated by the Anshei Kinesset HaGedola – the Men of Great Assembly. Another expression of this unity is the emphasis on forging brotherhood within the Jewish People – we read the megila in big groups, we give money to the poor and we give food gifts to our fellow Jews. Clearly, unity is a fundamental theme of Purim. Given this focus on unity, there is a striking difference between Purim and all other holidays – a difference that seems to emphasize pa...

We are now in the month of Adar Sheni. The school is decorated and we are preparing ourselves for the festivities of Purim. As we know, our Rabbis established four mitzvot of Purim: Reading the Megillah - each man and woman is obligated to read or hear the megillah being read on Purim evening and on Purim day Spreading happiness through delivering gifts of food - each man and woman is minimally obligated to give two food gifts to one person Eating a festive meal - each man and woman is obligated to eat a bread meal with wine and meat Charity to the poor - each man and woman is minimally obligated to give charity to two poor people What message do these particular mitzvot convey to those who observe them? To address one answer to this question, let us examine Haman’s plan to destroy the Jewish People. Haman’s suggestion to Achashverosh to destroy the Jewish people was uniquely formulated. Haman said, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peop...

Each of us has our reason for contributing to the Operational Campaign. For some, it is appreciation for what the school has given us. For some, it is an investment in the future. For some, it is a feeling of responsibility to the community. There are as many reasons as contributors. Each of these reasons is praiseworthy and laudable. Beyond the individual reasons why each person gives, this focused initiative of the entire community over the course of only two weeks itself conveys a message. I want to share two inspirational messages that I am taking away from the Operational Campaign. I will present the first message from what I readily acknowledge is an odd perspective. Like it or not, we can learn a lot about ourselves by studying how our enemies see us. Through their criticism and even venom, our enemies often provide a window into our deepest held beliefs in ways that escape our self-awareness. How did one of the Jewish people’s greatest archenemies view the strength of...