Hester Panim News Today

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Often there is a “Plan A.”  But sometimes, one has to go with a “Plan B.” And, since everything is mishamayim, it soon

From the blog of Shalom Orzach at The Times of Israel

From the blog of Ralph Genende at The Australian Jewish News

One way of understanding suffering is as a concealment of the good that would otherwise be present, since God’s goodness suffuses the world.

But Purim 2020 also reminded us of the custom of mishloach manot (sending gifts) and matanot l’evyonim (gifts to the poor) and these permeated the Jewish year way beyond the festival.  We have spent the past 12 months ensuring we send gifts to those who need both food and cheering. We have had to be far more responsive to those who have struggled.  Possibly for the first time, some have had to rely on food banks and gifts, when they have hitherto never needed charity.  So many of our syn...

Queen Esther Revisited One of the things that I appreciate most about Judaism is that with each Yom Tov, we have the opportunity to take time and reflect on our lives. With Purim being the anniversary that marks the end of one year in this new post-COVID-19 reality, I find it to be an especially apt time to pause and ask myself: where am I tracking in my life? In my relationship with myself, my children and family and with G-d? Each Yom Tov has unique themes, messages and meaning available for...