The Hidden Story of Queen Esther: A Video Series

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Unlike most other Jewish Holidays, the story of Queen Esther is about God's hand in what seems like coincidence. But is that the whole story? Wasn't the victory in Esther political rather than spiritual? What lessons are we meant to learn, and how does the story of Purim have an relevance to us? In these short videos, Rabbi Fohrman takes you on a journey of discovery into the text - revealing layers of meaning that are both startling and profound.

Aleph Beta Academy is bringing the words of our sages to life through illustrative video. For additional material, see: www.alephbeta.org

Part 1: Memories

Part 2: Esther – The Accountant

Part 3: We've been sold....again!

Part 4: Brotherly Love

Part 5: Repaying an Old Favor

Part 6: Past, Present & Future

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Published: February 17, 2013

Visitor Comments: 21

(21) Donna, April 9, 2013 8:56 AM

THANK YOU

Thank you for your dedication. I appreciate the truth you bring to light and thank you for putting it all together as you did in the end. Many people tell others to "stop living in the past". But as you point out, and as I have told those who would say this, :"we are all a culmination of our past and present and though we would minimize the past, it doesn't eliminate it from our life or take away the effects." I appreciate how you helped me realize that what I have told others, based upon my own experience, was not only the truth, but as you point out, it's how we 'tell the story" as to 'who gets the glory' for the bad or the good, in the end. Thank you and God bless you! Shalom

(20) Kimberly, March 23, 2013 7:39 PM

Appreciation

Rabbi,

Thank you so much for this wonderful insight! The story of Esther is one of my many favorites, however, I have never before "seen" what you have just taught. I love the word of God, and I am always trying to understand his word with greater clarity. I am not Jewish, but, love what your faith can teach me. With eagerness, I will peruse your other works to see what pearls I may glean. Thank you for this teaching!

(19) Peter Klug, February 24, 2013 12:31 AM

Opened a new vista.

New insights that lift this story into multi-dementions. If aperson can get ahold of this they can change and make great progress.

(18) Mikey, February 23, 2013 12:14 PM

Thanks

Thank you Rabbi, v thought-provoking. I wonder if there is another significance to do with Klal Yisrael. Isaac and Ismael were enemies. So were Jacob and Esav. Then we had Judah and his brothers selling Joseph (and our consequent exile to Egypt). This marked (with Judah's Teshuvah re Benjamin and Jacob's blessing of Mennaseh and Ephraim) the end of our family dysfunction. And how beautiful that it should finally end with Esther and Mordecai... and the unified nation of the Jews, as one People. Just a thought....

(17) Thomas, February 22, 2013 10:27 PM

Thank you

Inspiring! Effective! Relative! Life changing! Thank you ! for your diligence to teaching.

(16) Deb, February 22, 2013 8:55 PM

Links not active?

Excited to view the Hidden Story video series, but the links to the videos don't seem to be active. :-(

(15) Marla Mallory, February 22, 2013 2:55 PM

revelation of relational restoration and rescue .

Wonderful picture of the effectiveness of fasting and waiting for the Holy One to reveal our needs and the impact our personal repentance can have upon an individual as well as a nation.

(14) Rivky, February 21, 2013 7:15 PM

See the course guide!

Hi everyone! So glad you liked the Purim videos. You can download the course guide at this site- alephbeta.org/purim. To check out all of our courses, see our catalog at http://learn.alephbeta.org/school/catalog. Chag Purim sameach!

(13) Abraham Verdugo, February 21, 2013 4:13 PM

Happy Purim!

Beautiful story! This story teaches us that its not enough to say I tried but failed. But to go the extra mile. After seeing this lesson, I cant help but think that Esther could have said: Technically I'm not a Jew, I am a Benjamite. My family just lives in the Kingdom of Judah and would have saved herself. And that would have been the truth. Because of her tribal affiliation. But in going the extra mile to save save Judah she and appearing before the king, what she really was saying: We are all Israelites and we are family. Proving to the world that God can only save us if we love our neighbor as our self.

(12) Anonymous, February 21, 2013 3:54 PM

AMAZING

Thank you for this inspiring interpretation .I never heard it presented like this before and I am amazed at all the connections. For the first time I understand the depth of this holiday .

(11) Anonymous, February 21, 2013 2:21 PM

WOW! WOW! WOW! Excellent way to teach!!

I simply do not have enough superlatives to type here to truly portray how amazing is this video series! But, I will attempt to at least skim the surface... First off, I just learned so much more to the Purim story than I ever learned in any classes before this! It made me feel more deeply connected to Purim than ever before! It made me see Queen Esther as even a greater heroine! The visual method to deliver this class was impeccable! I now hunger deeply for more such classes! It is an easy, fun - yes fun! - way to learn! I wish there was a website for these classes! I believe there would be an enormous audience for them - even reaching those who know little about Torah but they would so enjoy this class's method! Rabbi David Forhman is now one of my top favorite teachers! I am a fan!

(10) Aliza, February 21, 2013 11:39 AM

excellent presentation of the little known story behind the story

watching all of these was a real "WOW" experience. thank you for the excellent presentation of the story of Purim and how the story of Yosef, Yehuda, Binyamin, Rachel and Leah all impacted it.

(9) Günther N. Ansari, February 21, 2013 9:07 AM

Most wonderful rendering of Quenn Esther's timelesly unforgettable wisdom , that has impacted Judaism so profoundly!

I have spiritually enjoyed the whole story and content of Purim, and wholeheartedly agree to all that has been so carefully presented even on audio-visual form! In Awe, Günther N. Ansari

(8) Anonymous, February 21, 2013 9:02 AM

great analysis

What a wonderful analysis. Thanks for all your hard work!

(7) Miriam, February 20, 2013 9:31 PM

Brilliant

Never I my memory has the Purim story been put together so well and so meaningfully. Thank you Rabbi for your insights and for the excellent series of videos. I look forward to seeing more of these on other topics.

(6) rochma, February 20, 2013 11:03 AM

transcript

beautiful lesson, is there a transcript that i can download and print?

(5) Fohrman Fan, February 20, 2013 5:49 AM

Wow!

Fascinating set of classes! Thank you so much, Rb Fohrman! I love the stuff you do with g'zayra shavas (similar words found in different places in Torah text); it's obviously there for a reason. Your ideas are very enlightening. Chag Purim Samayach!

(4) judith, February 19, 2013 9:22 PM

thank you so much David for your study. Much appreciated.

(3) Annette Glassner, February 19, 2013 9:03 PM

The HIdden Story of Queen Esther

Wow! I was enthralled by this series of videos. Thanks so much for teaching this perspective on Esther. Clear, concise and entertaining all at the same time. I hope there's more...

(2) Searchinmyroots, February 19, 2013 8:09 PM

Amazing!

Thank you once again Rabbi Fohrman for your in depth but easy to understand lesson from the Book of Esther. I just finished reading your book "The Queen You Thought You Knew" about 2 weeks ago. This video is a great follow up. Ready for your next work of art!

(1) Mo, February 17, 2013 3:13 PM

Best Purim Idea I have heard this year....

There was one mistake I noticed in your slides: Esther 2:5-6 not 3:5-6 at the 5:27 mark in the fourth video Thanks for the classes!

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About the Author

Rabbi David Fohrman

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Rabbi David Fohrman directs the Areivim Curriculum Project, and was an editor and writer for ArtScroll’s Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud. Rabbi Fohrman’s works seek to open layers of meaning of Biblical text, and to help the reader develop a relationship with the texts that make us who we are. Many of his lectures are available on the web at rabbifohrman.com.