Venue: The Jewish Center (New York, NY) The Jewish Center (New York, NY)

History:

8th - 10th Centuries CE,  Period of Tanach 

Machshava:

Purim 

Mishna:

Megillah 

Holidays:

Taanit Esther 

Nach:

Esther 

Description

Pre-Purim shiur at the Jewish Center. Based on Mitchell First's path-breaking work on the history of Ta'anit Esther. We examine the history of the custom to fast on the 13th of Adar, and the implications of our findings for understanding the nature of Purim as the Yom Tov Derabbanan par excellence.