The Book of Esther is traditionally read on the holiday of Purim. In synagogues, it is often chanted to a special melody and read from a scroll—megillah is the Hebrew word for scroll—and even though there are other scrolls, Jews often refer to The Book of Esther as "The Megillah." The Book of Esther is indeed a unique text in the canon of Jewish literature, opening its content to multiple interpretations. We have gathered here a collection of perspectives on this rich text, bringing together scholars, rabbis, artists, teachers, poets, and readers to shed light on The Book of Esther from a wide variety of disciplines and sources of knowledge.
We believe that a plurality of voices can be brought together to explore the vast canon of Jewish literature. Tradition tells us that the Torah has “seventy faces,” and we look forward to exploring them with you.
- Women in Judaism / Feminism
- Jewish Tradition
- Jewish Text and Thought
- Jewish Holidays (Chagim)
- After School and Beyond
- Congregational Learning
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
- Family Engagement
- Teen Engagement
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An exciting and diverse collection of resources to learn and celebrate the story of Purim.

How we can provide our students and youth with the emotional support that they need now, and to empower this generation to bring about the change they want to see in this world. Access our webinar recording and resources.

Carly Orshan, Director of the Teen Department at the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education in Miami, FL, joins David Bryfman on the April 28, 2020 episode of Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education.