Most of the holidays are mentioned for the first time in the Torah: the holiday of Pesach, the holiday of Matzot, the counting of the Omer, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret. This is not true with respect to Chanuka and Purim.
The Zohar associates Purim with Yom Kippur, two days that appear to be distinct opposites. In this shiur, we will analyze the connections between these two days, in particular the lots that appear both in the Megilla and in the laws of Yom Kippur.
The most obvious question presented to us by the obligation to wipe out Amalek is the moral one. Why are we required to erase the entire Amalekite nation, regardless of their behavior; why does God Himself also "declare war" on them?
What exactly is the culture of Amalek, against which we are commanded to wage war? If we examine the sections in the Torah that speak about Amalek, we note certain recurring elements...
The Rambam (Hilkhot Ta’aniyot 1:4) writes that fast days are designated as times for repentance. In the first chapter, he discusses fasts decreed in a time of distress, during which one should cry out to God.
