LIVING ROOM Purim! How Queen Esther Reversed History

Wednesday, February 24, 2009

6 pm Doors, 7 pm Program

Intersections, 274 5th Ave
Btwn 29th and 30th Sts

With Rabbi Justus Baird

Come celebrate Purim with a traditional reading of the Book of Esther,
the only book in the Bible that does not mention G-d, where a beautiful
Jewish woman becomes Queen of Persia and saves her people from the plot
of the wicked Haman to massacre all Jews in the empire.  This megillah,
scroll or book, is read with wild cheering and booing from all in
attendance. We will also hear portions chanted in the traditional
Hebrew.

This carnival-like celebration will include hamantaschen cookies, songs and blessings.  We will prepare a matanot l’evyonim, a package for the poor, a commandment for this holiday. Please bring hamantaschen to share and/or UNCUT fresh fruit for the fruit basket we will present to a local Kosher soup kitchen.  

Rabbi Justus N. Baird has served as the Director of the Center for Multifaith Education
at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City since 2007.  He
oversees the seminary’s multifaith programming which strives to prepare
religious leaders for a religiously diverse world.  In addition to his
work at Auburn, he founded an alternative Hebrew school program in NJ
called Yerusha.

He
has taught, preached in, and consulted with seminaries, churches,
synagogues, mosques, and interfaith organizations.  He teaches the
Multifaith Seminar in the Multifaith Doctor of Ministry Program (a
partnership between Auburn and New York Theological Seminary).  Raised
in Texas, Rabbi Baird lives in Princeton, NJ, with his wife Rabbi Julie
Roth (Director of the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton University)
and their two sons.

Image: “Queen Esther Revealing Her True Identity” by Lilian Broca

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