Verses

A note from Anita: This was one of my mother's favorite musicals, and in her memory, I'm re-airing this episode. She believed in the magic of making a beautiful world; she believed in the promise of humanity, and the glory of gardens. In memory of Charlene Salzman, I hope you think of her as you listen.  Paradise: what creeps in to make it crumble? Join Rachel and Anita as they explore "Camelot" f...

Join Verses for an exploration of making a journey to find our life’s dreams. We’ll listen to “Climb Every Mountain” from Sound of Music and the Counting of the Omer, between Passover and Shavuot. Follow along with the scripture here.

Happy Passover! Join Anita as she explores the Exodus story and “Why we tell the Story” from Once on this Island.  You can follow along with the lyrics and the Biblical text here . Feel free to share and follow! And let me know what you like, or would like more/less of here at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276

Now is the time for feasting, folly, and hiding behind masks! Join Rabbi Anita Silvert, with special co-host Sarah Sapperstein, for an exploration into the story of Esther and Purim, and the Cinderella song from Sondheim’s “Into the Woods”. Who are you, behind the mask? Who’s hiding? Who isn’t? And who are you without the mask? Follow along with the scripture here .

It’s almost spring….somewhere. We are quickly approaching Tu B’Shvat, the annual birthday of trees and a harbinger of spring. Join Verses as we connect this holiday with a spring song from “A New Brain” by William Finn. Dig out those planting tools! Follow along with the scripture here .

Love can make you do some wild and sometimes dangerous things! Join me as we explore the stories of Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, and Samson. We discuss love (philandering?), ego, vows, and the famous Mr. and Mrs. Manoach in the book of Judges. Guest co-host is Rabbi Lisa Ann Wharton. Check out her website at www.pnaishore.org , and to connect with me, you can join the Facebook page Verses-W...

It’s the darkest time of the year,  yet we find light. Join us as we explore light and darkness, day and night, and of course Chanukah! We’ll be hearing music from A Little Night Music, and look at texts from Creation, Joshua, and more.  Link to source sheet.

While you’re cooking for Thanksgiving’s meal, take a listen as we look at the idea of fitting into a community, whether it’s two people at your table, or 20 or more. We bring together wisdom from Pirke Avot and Pippin’s Corner of the Sky.  Follow along with the scripture here .

It’s election time….finally. Listen as we explore how women stood up and demanded their rights, both in the Torah and the new musical “Suffs”, about the suffragettes in the early 20th century. Follow along with the scripture here .

Global economy, foreclosures, mortgages, finding work, and swimming against a tide of political and social changes. Sound familiar? It should! Join me as we explore Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) and “For Now” from Avenue Q.  Follow along with the scripture here .

You’ve got a friend in me. Ok, wrong show, but join me as we explore the deep challenges and joys of friendships.  We’ll be looking at the relationship between Jonathan and David in 1st Samuel in the Bible, and “For Good” from Wicked. You can follow along with the Biblical text here .

Testing 1,2,3 – This week’s episode is all about counting. We count up, we count down. Join me as I explore counting the Omer, as we prepare for Shavuot, and “Seasons of Love” from Rent. You can follow along with the Biblical text here .

Fathers and sons, a most complicated relationship! Join me as we examine the connection that Abraham and Isaac have, along with exploring “Not My Father’s Son” from the Broadway hit, “Kinky Boots” You can follow along with the Biblical text here .

Happy Passover! Join Anita as she explores the Exodus story and “Why we tell the Story” from Once on this Island.  You can follow along with the lyrics and the Biblical text here . Feel free to share and follow! And let me know what you like, or would like more/less of here at our Faceook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276

We'll look at the story of Esther for the holiday of Purim, and bring in a song from "110 in the Shade". Remember to "booooo" when Haman's name comes up! He's the villain in the Book of Esther, and we try to drown out his name! Here's the source sheet for the Biblical text  https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/552216?editor=1

The land you have always wanted to go to turns out not to be what you expected as hosts Anita and Rabba Rachel discuss the connections between immigrants to America in West Side Story and the Promised Land. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/356735?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation! https://www....

Does clothing make the man? What role does clothing play in Joseph's story? Join Rachel and Anita as they compare the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and the Biblical text of Joseph, as seen through the lens of clothing. Follow along on the source sheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/463601?editor=1

Who was Jacob struggling with when the "man" confronted him? The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells of a man whose internal struggle ends badly. What about Jacob's struggle? Join Anita and Rachel as they connect the song "Confrontation" from Jekyll and Hyde to Jacob's struggle with the angel. Follow along on the source sheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/463599?lang=bi

Was Noah just following orders? And what did he really think about the flood, and God's decision? This week Rachel and Anita pair Children of Eden's take on Noah's conversation with God, and the text itself. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/427401?lang=bi

Was Noah just following orders? What did he really think about the flood, and God's decision? This week Anita and Rachel pair Children of Eden's take on Noah's conversation with God, and the text itself. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/427401?lang=bi

What causes a brother to kill another brother? What led to the struggle between Cain and Abel? Join Rachel and Anita for two different takes on the story, (with a lot in common!), one from Genesis text, and the other from "The Mark of Cain" from the 1991 Stephen Schwartz musical Children of Eden. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/418733?lang=bi

Paradise: what creeps in to make it crumble? Join Rachel and Anita as they explore "Camelot" from Camelot, and the text from Genesis and the Garden of Eden. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/418659?lang=bi

As Verses' second season continues Rachel and Anita ask if it all started with the apple and wonder what it was like for Adam to see this brand new world in an episode pairing the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and the 1966 show "The Apple Tree" with its song "Beautiful World”. Follow along on the Sourcesheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/443328?lang=bi sefaria.org apple-touch-icon.png

With the launch of Season 2 the spotlight falls on God, the Ultimate Artist! Join Rachel and Anita as they explore "Color and Light" from Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" and the opening lines of Bereshit, when God creates the universe and made order out of chaos. Follow along to this episode with the Sefaria sourcesheet at: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/409646?lang=bi

The Passover miniseries concludes as Rachel and Anita explore what it means to be on the edge of what came before and what's coming next, bringing together Fiddler on the Roof's well-known finale 'Anatevka' and the story of the exodus from slavery in Egypt. Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's website at https://...