Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash
Megilat Esther provides a lot of detail about the miracle of deliverance from Haman’s evil plot to annihilate the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahashverosh. But the Megila makes no explicit mention of the return to Zion of Jews in the same approximate period of time, and their project of rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash (as related in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). Our Sages z”l, however, saw a great deal of connection between the story of Purim and the building of the 2nd Beit HaMikdash.
Join Rabbi Yitzhak Zuriel and study a number of sources in Chazal — in the gemara and midrashim — to understand this perspective of the Sages of the Talmudic period, which itself gives deeper meaning to many details of the story told in the Megila about the events that transpired in Shushan the capital, far away from Jerusalem.
Timezone
Time of Class
February 9, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Cyrus’s Decree to Build; Why it was stopped; Events in Ahashverosh’s reign
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Cyrus’s Decree to Build; Why it was stopped; Events in Ahashverosh’s reign
Class description
I am excited to explore this not-so-well-known topic together with the class!
In this first of the three sessions. we will study sources that provide background, to be able to understand from the perspective of the sages in the Talmud and midrashim, what happened, and didn’t happen, during the reign of Ahashverosh with respect to the project of rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem.
I have provided sources here for your convenience. You are welcome to look them over in advance.
Handouts
February 16, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash
Class description
February 23, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash
Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash: Esther and the Second Beit HaMikdash
Class description
Rabbi Yitzhak Zuriel has been enjoying guiding students in how to learn and understand Talmud at WebYeshiva.org since its founding. He began his teaching career as a teacher and educational director at Michlelet Bruria in the 1980s. For over 20 years, he has been working as a software engineer in Jerusalem, and during that time has been an editor and contributor to the company NDS's Torah journal, Chiddushei Torah@NDS, that was published annually from 1996-2014 . He and his wife reside in Ma'ale Adumim and are parents to five children and have many grandchildren.