Responding to Anti-Semitism After October 7 With Esther as a Guide
#purim #october7 #megillah
The Megillah (the biblical Book of Esther) is a story of anti-Semitism set in the Diaspora in a multiethnic empire where Jews were living in peace. How did the Jews of the story see themselves in biblical Persia, according to the biblical text? What were the various ways they responded to being a minority and to anti-Semitism, and how did that unfold? How in particular did Esther view herself, act, adjust in real time? How should we take the end of the Megillah, the forceful and violent Jewish response described there?
All of this hits us differently after October 7. Rabbi Jon Spira-Savett and Rabbi Dr. Karen G. Reiss Medwed walk through each part of the biblical story and reflect on how different parts resonate today and might answer some of the dilemmas we are facing. We recorded this conversation on March 17, 2024, a week before Purim, and much of it reflects the year and also the particular moment during this war.
To listen or view on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/MNYk9UXV8Ek (https://youtu.be/MNYk9UXV8Ek)
To read the biblical book of Esther (the Megillah): https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.1?ven=Tanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&lang=bi (https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.1?ven=Tanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&lang=bi)
To continue this conversation with us, e-mail rabbijon@tbanashua.org (mailto:rabbijon@tbanashua.org) and/or RabbiReissMedwed@gmail.com, (mailto:RabbiKgRM@rabbikgrm.org,) and feel free to comment as well.
#purim #october7 #megillah
Introducing Adar Conversations, a series about themes of the Jewish festival of Purim and the Megillah, the biblical story of Esther. I recorded this in March 2024, as we approach the first Purim after the atrocities of October 7 and as the war continues. How can we celebrate, and maybe more importantly what can this book and this time in the Jewish year offer us as an "Esther-Informed Spiritual Therapy"?
To read this talk: https://www.rabbijon.net/rabbijon/2024/03/conversations-toward-purim-esther-informed-spiritual-therapy-for-5784-and-beyond.html (https://www.rabbijon.net/rabbijon/2024/03/conversations-toward-purim-esther-informed-spiritual-therapy-for-5784-and-beyond.html)
To watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XqZ42GLTIaQ (https://youtu.be/XqZ42GLTIaQ)
To view the Talmudic text I refer to: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/545387?lang=bi (https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/545387?lang=bi)
To read the biblical book of Esther (the Megillah): https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.1?ven=Tanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&lang=bi (https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.1?ven=Tanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&lang=bi)
To continue this conversation with me, e-mail rabbijon@tbanashua.org (mailto:rabbijon@tbanashua.org).
1 Jun 2022
Reproductive Rights and Judaism -- May 22, 2022
Panel discussion at Temple Beth Abraham with Rabbi Robin Nafshi (Temple Beth Jacob, Concord NH), Rabbi Leora Kling Perkins (Temple Emunah, Lexington MA), and Rabbi Jon Spira-Savett (Temple Beth Abraham, Nashua NH). Moderated by Sheryl Rich-Kern of Temple Beth Abraham.
17 Jan 2013
Parashat Bo: Redemption is God's True Power
This is about a ten-minute D'var Torah, exploring the dimension of God known through the Exodus, rather than the creation of the universe.
2 Aug 2012
Prayer Podcast: Shma, Part 1
Learn why and how you can deepen your experience of Jewish prayer and services by thinking about the prayer texts. Hear some opening thoughts on the meaning of the Shma.
4 Nov 2010
A Jewish Dialogue with Michael Sandel's "Justice" -- Part 2
Second part of the workshop.
4 Nov 2010
A Jewish Dialogue with Michael Sandel's "Justice" -- Part 1
This is the first part of the recording of a session I led at LimmudBoston on Oct 31, 2010. This podcast is geared to those who are interested in political theory. The workshop looked at Jewish texts that overlap in some ways the philosophers in Michael Sandel's recent book Justice, which is itself based on a course that he teaches at Harvard and which was made into a PBS series as well (you can see his teaching at justiceharvard.org and many of his readings as well). There is a source sheet that accompanies this session at http://rabbijon.typepad.com/files/limmudjustice.pdf. Where there is back and forth between me and the group some of the participants may sound muted but it's actually not too bad.
7 Oct 2010
Background of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Part 2
Here's the second part. It overlaps by a few seconds with Part 1.
7 Oct 2010
Background of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Part 1
Here is the first half of a 40-minute talk, plus some Q&A, about the general history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I gave this presentation August 4, 2010 at the Huntington in Nashua. I make reference to a series of maps, which you can find in a single pdf file at:
http://rabbijon.typepad.com/files/overview-with-maps----israel-palestine-conflict.pdf
20 Jul 2010
End of Life Dilemmas Pt 2
This is the second half of the presentation and discussion, with myself and Dr. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum. (At some points the sound is fainter as we hear some questions and respond as two people near a single microphone; turn up the volume when necessary. The quiet parts are not more than a few seconds.)
20 Jul 2010
End of Life Dilemmas Pt 1
This is the first half of a presentation and discussion about end of life issues and dilemmas, viewed though a Jewish lens. In this part I'm speaking, and in the second part I'm joined by Dr. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum, Chief Medical Officer at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
24 Feb 2010
Middot: Simcha
I'm resuming my series of monthly podcasts about middot. For the month of Adar, when we celebrate Purim, I'm focusing on simcha -- "joy." For more about Purim, click here.
24 Nov 2009
Middot: Gratitude
Middot are ethical qualities, habits of character. This month's podcast is about gratitude, in Hebrew hakarat hatov or literally "recognizing the good."
22 Oct 2009
Middot: Patience
This is the first in what will be a monthly series about middot or ethical qualities, aspects of our character. The first focus is patience, in Hebrew savlanut.
6 Oct 2009
Simchat Torah Orientation
Here is a brief explanation of what goes on at Simchat Torah services. In the middle is one simple melody that we sing with each of the Hakafot, the processions around the Sanctuary carrying the Torah scrolls.
9 Mar 2009
Purim Podcast: The Megillah and the Mishkan
This is a version of the sermon I gave on the morning of Shabbat Zachor, a different perspective on Megillat Esther.
18 Feb 2009
Jews in the 21st Century, Part 2
18 Feb 2009
Jews in the 21st Century, Part 1
11 Dec 2008
Podcast -- Chanuka as a Lens into Jews' Relation to Other Cultures
For more on Chanuka, go to rabbijon.com (http://rabbijon.com) and follow the link on the homepage.
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