Jewish spiritual life has been in turmoil for the past five months, since the horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the concomitant rise in antisemitism locally and around the world.
As Purim approaches, we’ll read the Book of Esther through “Oct. 7 lenses.” A spiritual and satirical masterpiece, Esther makes startling and timely observations about hatred, antisemitism, and self-defense. And the objects of its satire are never far from home.
Join Rabbi Neal Gold and our growing online community of learners for a spirited and heartfelt exploration of just how we can celebrate Purim at such a time of grief and fear. Some clues, we’ll discover, are to be found in the Megillah’s rich and multitiered text.
Image: Illuminated Scroll of Esther, Ferrara, Italy, 1616.
Courtesy of National Library of Israel.