Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as managing 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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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
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
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
Rita Forbes
Clinton
September 13, 2025
in response to Rita Forbes:
Blessings, (2022)
Thank you, (9/9).
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
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
3/9 It's good enough for me!