SearchEsther 2000
For More Information:
Pam Yenko
Creighton University
Creighton Hall 333
2500 California Street
Omaha, NE 68178
(402) 280-2303
A Symposium and Cultural Event
A symposium on all aspects of the biblical Book of Esther. Sponsored by Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
April 2 and 3, 2000
ABSTRACTS
SCHEDULE
Sunday, April 2
11:30 Registration (held at Skutt Student Center, Creighton
University campus)
11:45 Introductions
The Different Books of Esther
(12:00 - 2:30) held at Skutt Student Center
Nicolae Roddy, Creighton University, Presiding
12:00 Kristin De Troyer [Claremont Graduate School], "Esther in
Biblical Paradise: Status Quaestionis and a Case Study
Of Esther 2:21-23"
12:30 Leonard Greenspoon [Creighton University]. "From
Maidens and Chamberlains to Harems and Hot Tubs:
Five Hundred Years of Esther in English"
1:00 Scholars Round Table and general discussion
2:00 Reading the Megillah; Celebrating the Holiday of Purim
Rabbi Ira Flax and members of Omaha's Jewish
Community
2:30 Break
Esther: Character and Characters
(2:45 - 5:30) held at Skutt Student Center
Ronald A. Simkins, Creighton University, Presiding
2:45 Timothy Laniak [Gordon-Conwell TheologicalSeminary].
"Mediating from the Margins"
3:15 Sidnie White Crawford [University of Nebraska-Lincoln].
"Esther and Judith: Contrasts in Character"
3:45 Michael Fox [University of Wisconsin-Madison], "The
Character of Esther: Three Views"
4:15 Scholars Round Table and general discussion
5:30 Session ends
Keynote Event
(6:30 - 8:30) held at Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California (north of
Dodge at 144th)
6:30 Buffet supper
7:30 Ted Bohr, SJ, Creighton University, Presiding
Ori Soltes [Georgetown University], "Illustrating the Book
of Esther: Why, When, Where?"
Monday, April 3
Esther in Tradition and Folklore
(10:00 - 12:00 ) held at Nebraska Union on the campus of University of
Nebraska, Lincoln
Stephen Burnett, UNL, Presiding
10:00 Barry Walfish [University of Toronto], "Kosher Adultery? The Mordecai-Esther-Ahasuerus Triangle in Midrash and Exegesis"
10:30 Judith Neulander [Indiana University]. "The Ecumenical
Esther: Queen and Saint in Three Western Religions"
11:00 Scholars Round Table and general discussion
12: 00 Lunch (in Wick Alumni Center)
Esther: Reading the Book, Writing a Commentary
(1:00 - 5:00 ) held at Nebraska Union
John Turner, UNL, Presiding
1:00 Elizabeth Groves [Philadelphia, PA], "Esther: A Recitation"
1:45 Break
2:00 Carey Moore [Gettysburg College], "'It Takes a Village' also
To Produce a Commentary: A Case in Point"
2:30 Adele Berlin [University of Maryland]. "Writing a
Commentary for a Jewish Audience"
3:0 0 David Clines [Sheffield University], "Esther and the Future
of the Commentary"
3:30 Break
3:45 Scholars Round Table and general discussion
5:00 Session ends
Keynote Event
(7:30 - 8:30) held at Morrill Hall on the campus of the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln
7:30 Jean Cahan, UNL, presiding
Jon Levenson [Harvard Divinity School], "Commenting on
Esther as an Ecumenical Problem"