Play Purim True or False!

Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational website. He has been writing, researching, and editing for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch. He lives in Chicago, Ill., with his family.

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25 Comments

Annie Álvarez Spain March 7, 2023

7/9 :( Reply

Rivka Rachum WEST ORANGE March 23, 2022

Uh, oh, 4/9! I really thought I knew more! Reply

asdfasdf asdfasdf mountain aview March 19, 2022

Thanks, rabbi Posner!
Good trick questions! Reply

Lauren Diane Spector Bend, OR March 18, 2022

8 out of nine. Purim is one of my favorite Holidays. Reply

blank March 17, 2022

7/9! not bad Reply

Sara March 16, 2022

I always heard that Mordechi was the uncle, cousin, and he also adopted Esther. It said here that he was not her uncle. I also recently heard that Mordechai was Esther´s wife!
So my question is, how is he related to Esther Reply

LL New York March 16, 2022

in response to Sara:

Mordechai is Esther's cousin but he adopted and raised her,, which is why we think of Mordechai as her uncle Reply

blank March 17, 2022

in response to Sara:

Mordechai is Esther's first cousin Reply

Naomi Queens March 17, 2022

in response to Sara:

Mordechai was not Esther’s wife. It was the other way around. Reply

Lofty Shul March 17, 2022

in response to Sara:

You mean he was her husband and there are different opinions of who Mordechai was to Esther Reply

Sara March 27, 2022

in response to Naomi :

Well that´s what I meant Reply

LL New York March 27, 2022

in response to Lofty:

I have never heard this. Mordecai was Ester''s cousin. Her parents died, so he adopted and raised her. I have never heard anything about them being married. Reply

Shneur Los Angeles September 25, 2022

in response to LL:

The Gemara in Meggilah 13a comments on that verse citing a Beraita "instead of reading the word (Mordechai took her) 'L'bas,' meaning 'as a daughter,' read it 'L'bayit,' meaning 'as a househould.'" So Esther was Mordechai's Wife. However the simple reading is still true. Reply

LL New York October 24, 2022

in response to Shneur:

Thank you. But then how did she marry the king? Were they not all virgins? Reply

Stephanie Wilson West Chicago March 16, 2022

6 out of 9 correct for this Gentile Zionist. This is fun! TY Chabad for teaching me more about your holidays. Happy blessed Purim everyone! Reply

Bear Ohio March 16, 2022

100% and I'm not Jewish. Reply

Rita Forbes Clinton March 15, 2022

[8/9]. Happy Purim! Reply

Steven Zapiler DENVER March 15, 2022

What year(s) did the story of Purim take place? Where in the world now is the town where Purim took place? What country is it in now? What is the name of the city called now? Are there any other sources (in Hebrew or any other language) for the story of Purim other than Megillot Esther? Reply

blank March 17, 2022

in response to Steven Zapiler:

the first exile. Iran is where it took place. now its a town named shush. I don't have an answer for the last one. Reply

Anonymous Los Angeles March 17, 2022

in response to Steven Zapiler:

Unfortunately, there are many books that existed that had a lot more information regarding this story, but the Arabs burned those books. Reply

Shneur Los Angeles September 25, 2022

in response to blank:

Commentary: The first exile spanned the years 3338-3408 from the word's creation, (which would be 423-353 BCE). The King's Party took place in 3395 (366 BCE). The war at the end took place in 3405 (356 BCE).

For more sources: for a more Midrashic twist on the story, see Talmud Tractate Megillah, Midrash Rabbah on Esther and Meam Loez on Esther, just for starters. there are a number of other Midrashim, and they offer some background as well.

For a chronological time flow from Na"CH (Prophets and Writings), it would be jumping from the ending of the Early Prophets in II Kings straight to Daniel, which then roughly leads to Esther, [as Daniel ends in 3391 (370 BCE), and the Megillah starts with Achashveirosh's rule, which began 3 years before his grand feast, so that would be in 3392 (369 BCE).] Reply

Shneur Los Angeles September 25, 2022

in response to Anonymous:

Additionally, in Esther 10:2 it says that it was written in the Chronical Books of Media and Persia, which I'd strongly assume we have no clue what or where they are. Reply

mch May 22, 2023

in response to Shneur:

I belive shushan is somewhere in iran Reply

Etty Neuman Brooklyn March 15, 2022

Oh wow this was a toughie! 5 out of 9 for someone who grew up with Purim all her life! lol. Where in the world does Haman 3-point hat come from? Reply

blank March 17, 2022

in response to Etty Neuman:

no clue! Reply

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