By Yehuda Landy
Feldheim, $34.99

Strictly Orthodox rabbis have generally been wary of archaeology as a weapon wielded by sceptics to challenge the truth of the Bible.

So Rabbi Yehuda Landy’s coffee-table Megillah, published by the Orthodox Feldheim house, is unusual in using ancient sources to present a backdrop to the events of the Purim story.

Colourfully illustrated with plentiful photographs and diagrams, the guide was inspired by a visit to an exhibition on the Persian empire at the British Museum a few years ago.