Free Seforim!

Rabbi David Fohrman, who delivered a phenomenal shiur on Sefer Yonah to our school at the beginning of the year has come out with a new book about Megillat Esther.  The OU, which published the sefer (full disclosure - I've done some editing work for them) is giving away copies of the book to high school students (10th, 11th & 12th - sorry motivated freshmen, I'm currently appealing to Rabbi Fohrman on your behalf).  Here is their description of the program:

The Orthodox Union is pleased to announce a school enrichment program in connection with a new book begin published by OU Press -- The Queen You Thought You Knew, by Rabbi David Fohrman. Rabbi Fohrman distinguished himself with his first book, The Beast that Crouches at the Door, which was a finalist for the 2007 National Jewish Book Award, and was hailed widely as a groundbreaking study of the Tree of Knowledge story. This new book by Rabbi Fohrman, The Queen You Thought You Knew, continues in that tradition. It offers a highly engaging reading of the Purim Megillah that is at once refreshingly original, entirely engrossing, and grounded firmly in the text and Mesorah.
 In an effort to bring the treasures of this book to a wider readership of young people, the Orthodox Union is making a select number of copies of The Queen You Thought You Knew, available, free of charge, to Jewish high schools nationwide. Here is a chance to provide your students with some riveting reading connected to Purim; a true “page-turner” that will offer them a breathtaking vista into the world of the Megillah. All costs of this program are being underwritten by the Orthodox Union, through the generous sponsorship of the Hoffberger Institute for Text Study.

 In exchange for the sefer, each student will answer one of the following questions in a short essay:

1.      Did reading The Queen You Thought You Knew make you feel like you could “relate” to the Megillah more? Did any of the characters of the Megillah seem to come alive in a new way? Why, or why not?

2.      For most of us, the way we look at the greatness of Esther is that she managed to save the Jewish People from certain destruction. Fohrman, though, argues that there are other, more hidden aspects of her heroism. Describe how the book seemed to shed new light for you on what Esther was trying to achieve, or how she achieved it.

3.      Did this book matter to you? Why or why not?

4.      In Rabbi Fohrman’s books, he often asks very basic questions that seem obvious – at least in retrospect – but that somehow, people don’t ask all that often. Were there any questions he posed that you always wondered about? Or, alternatively, were there any questions he posed that made you ask yourself: “how come I never wondered about that”?

5.      What part of this book did you like the best?

6.      In the book, Rabbi Fohrman argues that Esther’s most desperate moment came not when she first approached the king to save the Jews, or even when she rose to indict Haman as the man who would bring down her people. Instead, her most dangerous moment came later – when seemingly, the battle for the Jews’ safety had already been won. What evidence does the author offer to support this view?

As I said this morning, they are giving the seforim to schools on a first come first serve basis, so please let me know ASAP if you would like to participate.

**UPDATE: Rabbi Fohrman just e-mailed that motivated freshmen ARE eligible.