Episode
Purim 5786: When Celebration Challenges Us
- Podcast
- Pardes from Jerusalem
- Published
- Feb 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2346
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://traffic.megaphone.fm/DPARD5274073783.mp3
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Summary
How do we remain faithful to tradition when a sacred text makes us uncomfortable? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman take a thoughtful look at one of the hardest parts of Megillat Esther—the battle scenes at the end of the story. As Purim approaches, they explore different ways to understand these passages: Was the war defensive? A product of its time? Or even intentionally over-the-top? The conversation offers a model for engaging difficult texts with honesty, while still celebrating Purim with depth and joy.