Four Tuesday Nights
7-8:30 PM ET
February 6, 13, 20, 27

Every year on the holiday of Purim, we are reminded of Esther’s story. We invite you to investigate this story anew, through the eyes of each character.

We will consider topics including…

Esther and Vashti, the two women in the book
What was the true relationship between Esther and Mordechai?
What was Mordechai’s true role in the book?
How was the book of Esther used in polemic with Christian tradition?

ENROLL

Instructor: Gideon Amir
Location: Zoom Classroom
The Zoom link will be sent to all registrants before the first session.

REGISTRATION RATES
This course is offered on a sliding payment scale. Both tiers receive identical access to the program.
Standard Class Rate: $120
Base Rate: $80 (Subsidized by Haberman Institute donors)

All interested students are encouraged to join our classes. Should the registration rates become a barrier to enrollment, please reach out to our Executive Director, Matthew Silverman.

Gideon Amir was born in Holland to Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel in 1947. He grew up in Jerusalem and served in the IDF as a Paratrooper.

Gideon received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rechovot. In 1980, he moved to the United States, where he worked as a manager in several companies including Sperry Univac, British Telecom, and Cisco Systems.

In 1999, he pursued his interest in Judaic Studies and enrolled in a full-time graduate program at Baltimore Hebrew University, where, in May 2001, he received his Master’s degree with honors. Redirecting his passion for teaching from computer science to Jewish and Bible studies, he became an adult Jewish educator for several education programs, including the Haberman Institute, where he continues to teach today.

Beyond the Text: The Book of Esther