Around the Calendar with Drisha

Using midrashim and other forms of exegesis, Rabba Wendy Amsellem explores the women’s centrality within the drama of the Purim story, including how they are portrayed separately and as foils to one another.

The structures of Yehuda and David's narratives bear striking similarities. What do they teach us about each other?

Our High Holiday prayers assume that each individual is judged by God on Rosh Hashana, and that judgment is then sealed on Yom Kippur. Hence, the goal of our prayers is to "transform" the Judge's opinion in our favor. By distinguishing between "comprehension" and "intention" we will undertake a closer examination of prayer in both the siddur and machzor to show how its primary goal may focus much...

Is the prophetic message of Megillat Esther timeless, or does its author assume that the reader is familiar with 'current events' as well as the relatively recent prophecies of Jeremiah and Zechariah? We will examine this issue to determine how it may affect, and change, our very understanding of the basic message of one of the most popular books of the Bible.

Shattering the Covenant and Reconstituting the Relationship with God. 

The afikoman plays a central role in the celebration of the Passover seder. What is the history of the afikoman and what is its relevance for both children and adults? We will survey the traditional sources for a halakhic and historical study of this beloved tradition.

Malchiot, declaring God's Kingdom, emerges as one of the central themes of our prayers on Rosh Hashana. We will begin by tracing the concept of malchiot in the Bible and its relation to the Covenant between God and His People. We will then study the malchiot section of musaf, which is introduced by Aleinu Leshabayach

The Akeidah plays a significant Role in the Torah reading and liturgy of Rosh Hashana. We will examine this story in the context of Abraham's relationship to God and God's Covenant with our ancestors.

Why do we begin our history as a people with the story of our enslavement? We will explore the role of slavery in the development of our national identity and in our celebration of Passover.