Purim Audio Classes

A detailed chapter-by-chapter overview of the Megillah of Esther sewn together with keen insights and timely life messages--covering an introduction and chapters 1-2.

A detailed chapter-by-chapter overview of the Megillah of Esther sewn together with keen insights and timely life messages--covering chapters 3-5.

A detailed chapter-by-chapter overview of the Megillah of Esther sewn together with keen insights and timely life messages--covering chapters 6-10.

More than just a story: What if Esther was not just a woman in history, but a part of your soul, and Mordechai was the other part?

What’s the real reason for eating hamantashen on Purim? Learn the basic customs and a general overview for Purim.

The story of Purim is best understood within context of its historical circumstances. The Purim saga is a convergence of Babylonian might, Persian arrogance and Jewish faith.

You've heard the story of Purim -- we all know the basic story. But how much of the story do you really know. Join us in exploring the story of Purim and its application to reality today

Unravel the deeper message encoded in the megillah and gain an appreciation for the subtle ideas tucked away inside the megillah’s folds.

“The people performed the mitzvahs they had previously accepted” - Esther 9:16. By returning to the inner soul of Torah the people revealed a second dimension in Judaism previously unknown.

Similar to our masquerading on Purim, it seems that G-d masked himself from getting any face time in the Megillah, why?

The megillah tells us that Haman schemes to hang Mordechai, the Jew, on gallows of fifty cubits height, what’s the significance of this detail?

The Sages teach that it was at Purim that we accepted the Torah, our covenant with G-d, but didn’t that happen at Sinai?

Experience the gems of Purim with the classic commentaries, and a kabbalistic twist.

An insight into the story of the Megillah: The reason why Purim was given its name; the laws of Purim, the reason why the Megillah is the only book in the entire Torah that does not have the name of G-d even once and more.

Welcome to M-Cast, where we take a look at timely topics and see how they relate to the coming of Moshiach.

Purim is a festival of boundless joy, but being happy doesn’t always come so naturally. How do we achieve real Simcha—true happiness?

A true story, as told by the Chief Rabbi of Tehran, a participant in the events when Khomeini came to power, in the land of Mordechai and Esther.

A remarkable illumination of the mystifying Talmudic story where a sage “slaughters” his colleague at the festive Purim meal.

1) Getting acquainted with “Kosher Spirits” 2) The "Real Deal" on Wine, Beer, Scotch & Single Malt Whiskies

The rise and fall of Haman; a deeper look into the source of the holy and the un-holy in the divine will, and on which level each one thrive.

Chassidus teachings offer an analogy to the condition of exile, of a teacher and student who are in the middle of their studies. When the teacher wishes to share a more complex concept, he pauses to prepare the new lesson. It is the maturity of the student that will determine whether the interruption is seen as abandonment or devotion.

This class provides a thorough understanding of the deeper reason and root cause for the decree and salvation in the Purim story.

This class illuminates the deeper dimension of the Megillah – book of Esther; why there’s no mention of G-d’s name in the text and the different times for its reading.

An in-depth discussion on the unique halachic implications for a Friday Purim; how is it celebrated in Jerusalem and how to combine the Purim and Shabbat meals.

This is an advanced class on the holiday of Purim.

This class deeply analyzes various passages where Maimonides describes the parameters for observing three of the special Purim mitzvahs: rejoicing at a feast, sending food gifts to friends, and giving monetary gifts to the poor. (Based on Likutei Sichos vol. 16, pp. 365-372)

The four special mitzvahs of Purim all start with the letter “mem”: 1) Megillah, 2) Mishloach manot (sending food gifts to friends), 3) Matanot la’evyonim (charity to the poor), and 4) Mishteh (a festive meal). What is the deeper significance of this connection?

One of the four special mitzvot to observe on the day of Purim is giving gifts to the poor. Why is this practice termed "gifts" (matanot) to the poor and not "charity" (tzedakah) as we might expect?

What is the difference between Purim, which is celebrated on the 14th day of the month, and Passover and Sukkot which are celebrated on the 15th day of their respective months? The answer lies in the fact that the number fourteen in Hebrew is represented by the letters yud (10) and daled (4), which spell the word "yad" which means "hand."

The name Purim means "lotteries." The first letter of this word is the letter peh which also means "mouth." The entire story of Purim is really about the various "mouths" that spoke up at various times.

The festival of Purim is named after the lots that the wicked Haman casted to determine the “best” date to carry out his evil scheme. In the end, however, the date proved to be propitious for the Jews. What is the connection between a lottery and Jewish survival?

Why the constant focus on joy, and how do we increase in our joy during the month of Adar? Comparing and contrasting the holidays of Purim and Pesach sheds light on how to serve
G-d with greater joy.

If woman are obligated to hear the Megillah, are they permitted to read it for other woman? Or possibly even for other men? A discussion of Jewish law, concluding with a chassidic thought on Purim.

Prepare for Purim with a quick overview of a) the practical laws (halacha) of Purim, b) the Megillah story, and c) insights into the deeper meaning of the holiday.

Mordechai’s and Esther’s different roles in the Purim story, and their influence on the way in which the megillah was ultimately written and canonized as part of the Bible.

When the Jewish people as a whole dwelt in the Land of Israel, the reading of the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther) on Purim was not necessarily read on the same day for all Jews. In fact, depending on where one lived, there could be a disparity of up to four days between the respective readings. This class will explore the spiritual and mystical relevance of this phenomenon as it probes the layers of the heavens above and the soul below. (Based on the Maamar ‘Megillah Nikraas’ 5737)

Purim is meant to be the most joyous day of the year, so surely we can learn keys to joy from the four mitzvahs we follow to celebrate Purim.

A deeper look at how we relate to our Jewish identity.

The meaning of the public fast (Fast of Esther) observed on the day before Purim.

This class is a synopsis of the Chassidic discourse (maamar) the Rebbe delivered in the famous Purim farbrengen (gathering) of 1958. The maamar is based on the teaching of our Sages that when the wicked Haman erected the wooden gallows to hang Mordechai, G-d in Heaven declared that it would not come to pass, “For Abraham has already preceded you when he invited the angels to find shade under the tree”. The maamar traces the mystical history of Abraham’s tree and, as always, leaves us with novel and inspiring insight.

Haman rejoiced greatly when his lottery to determine the date of the ‘Final Solution’ fell on Adar, considering it the most propitious omen possible, for it is the month that Moses died. However, there are far more sadder and calumnious months in the calendar than Adar, so why wouldn’t he be even more pleased if the lottery fell on one of them?! The answer reveals an astounding layer of meaning to the ever-relevant story of Purim. (Based in part on Likutei Sichos volume 26, Sicha 1)

A deeper look at the story of Purim whereby a number of ostensibly incidental details provide the clues to an amazing discovery.

The Rebbe offers a profound perspective on what Purim is all about. Discover how the real Purim joy lives outside of your personal life. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 16 Purim)

Why in the world do we immortalize our enemy Haman by eating cookies that bear his name? The truth is that this is a case of mistaken identity. These Purim treats were originally called Muhntashen, which means 'poppy seed pockets'. The deeper reason for eating Hamantaschen is to symbolize how the Purim story was a hidden miracle, comprised of many natural twists and turns that all lined up perfectly in the end. This week’s story is about a Jew who thought he was seeing a sharp lawyer who came to his defense, but in truth, he was witnessing something so much greater.