Hebrew College is delighted to partner with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to present “The Book of Esther,” a special lecture series offered in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition, “The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt.”
The Book of Esther tells the dramatic story of a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of Shushan while concealing her identity. Guided by her cousin Mordechai, Esther summons extraordinary courage to risk everything in order to save her people. Her story of bravery, resilience, and moral leadership continues to resonate across the centuries.
Lecturers: Dr. Rachel Adelman; Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld; Dr. Ori Soltes; Dr. Michael Zell; and Simona di Nepi.
Lecture schedule:
- October 5 – “Esther Concealed/Esther Revealed” with Dr. Rachel Adelman, Professor of Bible, Hebrew College
- October 12 – “Jewish Stories of Esther” with Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President of Hebrew College
- October 19 – “The History of Esther in Jewish Art in 5 Paintings” with Dr. Ori Soltes, Teaching Professor, Georgetown University & Former Director and Chief Curator of the B’nai B’rith Kluznick National Jewish Museum
- October 26 – “Rembrandt and the Jews: A Dialogue Through Art” with Dr. Michael Zell, Professor of the History of Art and Architecture, Boston University, and Simona di Nepi, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica at the Museum of Fine Art
All lectures will be held on Zoom. As a special benefit, registered participants will also receive an exclusive private tour of the exhibition and a conversation with its curator, Dr. Diana Greenwald. Additional free and discounted in-person opportunities will be available for participants in the Greater Boston area.
In-person opportunities:
- Private tour: “The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt” | Dr. Diana Greenwald, Curator of the Collection, The Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum, Thursday, October 8, 1 p.m. (Free for lecture participants, code provided upon registration.)
- Panel discussion (in partnership with The Vilna Shul): “A Curator’s Conversation on Esther in the Age of Rembrandt” | Dr. Diana Greenwald, Curator of the Collection, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Abigail Rapaport, Curator of Judaica, The Jewish Museum (New York); Michele Frederick, Curator of European Art, North Carolina Museum of Art, Wednesday, October 14, 7 p.m., Vilna Shul. (Free for lecture participants, code provided upon registration.)
- Live performance (in partnership with The Vilna Shul): “Nightingale of Iran” | Music and theater from Dr. Galeet Dardashti and Danielle Dardashti, award-winning creators of the podcast “The Nightingale of Iran.” Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m., Vilna Shul (half off ticket price for lecture participants, code provided upon registration).
- A night at the museum (in partnership with the Gardner and The Vilna Shul): Celebrate Jewish Persian culture and Queen Esther performance by Vilna Shul 2025 Creative Fellow Tutti Druyan; interview with digital storyteller Miriam Anzovin; calligraphy workshops focused on the art of the scroll; and culinary demos with Sephardic chef and Jewish food historian Sara Gardner. November 12, 6-9 p.m., Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (free for lecture participants, code provided upon registration).
* Registration closes on October 5th
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