Purim 5781 | February 2021
Rabba Sara Hurwitz - Welcome & Framing
Esther, the namesake of Megillat Esther, is described as “donning royalty” at the center of the book. This moment, says Rabba Sarah Hurwitz, is the moment in which she stepped into power and negated the norm of women being completely subservient to men.
Rabba Wendy Amsellem - Isolation & Connection in Megillat Esther
The image of a family member standing outside a window, hoping to see a relative without any sense of the passage of time or personal preference and identity, speaks not only to the time of Esther in the palace but also to us in the time of lockdown. Rabba Wendy Amsellem discusses the feeling of isolation, and making the most of small gatherings, parallel activity and reaching out to others.
Rabbanit Judith Levitan - V’nahafochu: Disruption and Innovation in Megillat Esther
The megillah experiences several fundamental shifts over the course of the story, from the sociopolitical leaders to the social standing of the lay nations. However, not all change is negatively impactful; some positive creation results from disruptive innovation, moving slowly from the fringe inwards. Rabbanit Judith Levitan speaks about the slow changes in Esther, Yonah and the world around us.
Rabbanit Gloria Nusbacher - The Tale of Vashti’s Tail
While one of the most famous images of Vashti features her decked out in a tail, a crown or something scandalous, the reasons behind this apparel reflect two paradigms. In Masekhet Megillah, Vashti is seen as black-and-white: she is sexually immoral and inherently villainous. However, Esther Rabba reflects a more complex image of a woman torn between two worlds. Rabbanit Gloria Nusbacher offers insight into human nature based on these two approaches.
Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe - The Power of the Pintele Yid
The certain spark inside of each of us, known as the pintele yid, lies dormant until it is ignited. When Esther Rabba translates a key verse as calling Mordechai an individual, Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe uses the Sfat Emet to trace the path of ignition from Mordechai to Esther to the whole Jewish nation. This path, from plural to singular grammatical structuring, reinforces the second acceptance of the Torah and the love fostered between individuals.