22 Mar Purim Torah

*Why doesn’t the Megillah start with Esther?

Because you can’t start up with a lady.

*How do you know that Esther worked for the city?

Because she responded that the king and Haman should come back tomorrow.

*What brocha do you make when you see a liar?

Shehakol nehiyeh bidvaro.

*What Brocha do you make upon seeing a Ganev?

Bechachma Poseach shearim.

*What was Achashveirosh’s Mother-in-law’s name?

Shochocho, as it says “V’chamas hamelech Shachacha.” Boara, as it says “Vechamosoi boro vo.” How could he have two mothers-in-law? Because it says, Gam vashti hamalka asesa m’shtei nashim; she was made from two women.

*Where did Haman work?

In the butter factory, as it says Vayimalei Haman Cheima.

*What was the biggest miracle of Purim?

That Haman only had ten sons hung. Can you imagine saying more names in one breath?

*How come Mordechai saved Achashveirosh from Bigsan and Seresh when he had kidnapped Esther and a Goy is chayev misa if he steals?

The answer is that the Gemara says that Esther was Karka Olam and we pasken that karka eino nigzeles.

*Why were Haman’s ears in a triangular form?

Haman was hung on a tree that was fifty Amos tall. A person is not capable of seeing more than a twenty amos distance, so the meat became basar shenisalem min ha’ayin. Hence the meat had to be cut in a special way.

*Why were only ten sons hung?

Haman was as tall as the roof of a house; that is why his name was Agag. Zeresh was only a zeres tall, which is the size of a fist. When one parent is tall and the other one is short, the children are beinonim (average). The Gemara in Yuma says that beinonim are teluyim veomdim ad asara.

*How do we know that Achashveirosh was a chossid?

He davened s’fard as it says mei’hodu ve’ad kush; first Hodu and then kiss the tzitzis.

*If a woman has only one candle to light for Shabbos may she stand in front of a mirror and thereby have two candles?

The answer is no; because then you would have two women requiring four candles, not two.

*Why did Mordechai reveal the plot to kill the king?

He wanted two goyim killed instead of just one.

*How do we know that Achashveirosh considered Esther to be an angel?

Because Achashveirosh said ma lach Esther.

*What is the difference between Jews and non-Jews at a party? Non-Jews leave without saying goodbye; Jews say goodbye and never leave.