Purim is a joyous holiday where the Jewish people celebrate being saved from persecution in ancient Persia. The holiday explores themes of joy and merriment, being proud of who you are, the need for acts of loving-kindness, women’s empowerment, and more. Celebrate with us by registering for various learning opportunities below. 

An email will be sent with joining details prior to the event.

How Different Communities Read and Tell Her Story

Who was Queen Vashti? Readers of the Book of Esther from rabbinic through modern times have asked this question about the banished queen from the Purim story and sought to provide answers through supplementing the text with midrashic (interpretative) commentaries. This participatory session will explore a wide range of texts (from rabbinic midrash to 19th-century feminist abolitionist poetry) about Vashti and consider what these texts come to tell us about how readers have understood Vashti’s character.