What’s coming up in March?
What’s coming up in March?
This March, as we prepare for Purim costumes at the ready, megillot in hand, and hamantaschen in the oven, CSP invites you into a month of layered exploration, where what is revealed and what is hidden shape our understanding of Jewish culture and history. In the spirit of the Megillah, we’ll examine questions of presence and absence with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum. Art takes center stage as Simona Di Nepi explores Jewish nostalgia in 19th-century European paintings, Dr. Sharon Keller (members-only) revisits Judy Chicago’s groundbreaking feminist vision in Beyond the Dinner Party: Herstory and Tobi Kahn guides us through the Spring 2026 NYC art scene.
Music, poetry and humor further enrich the month. Yael Cherni’s three-part series traces the dynamic interplay of East and West in Israeli music from the 1970s to today, while Dr. Eve Grubin illuminates how biblical language echoes through modern verse and the YIVO archives open a window onto a century of Jewish life through 100 iconic objects. We’ll also celebrate Jewish creativity in America with Rabbi Elie Spitz in conversation with David Margolick on how Sid Caesar reinvented American comedy.
Interlacing both this month and the next, is a new series with Prof. Stephen Berk diving deep into the history of the Holocaust, examining the moral collapse and decision-making of that era. Join us online this March for programs that balance joy and reflection, memory and imagination reminding us that Jewish identity, like the Purim story itself, is both deeply rooted and endlessly unfolding.
The Godless Megillah with Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum
Tuesday March 3, 2026
12:30-1:30 PM PST/3:30-4:30 PM EST/20:30-21:30 London Time/22:30-23:30 Israel Time
Why is God’s name missing from the Book of Esther? This little biblical book has precious little religion in it. The main characters, both Jewish and not, seem unconcerned with any kind of ritual worship. In this playful and passionate class, we will study four traditional reasons why God is absent and then suggest a fifth which provides a whole new perspective to the Book of Esther. This, in turn, leads to a dilemma we all face in modern Western society.
The Holocaust A History of Decisions, Places, and Moral Collapse with Prof Stephen Berk
Sundays March 8, 15, 22 & 29 and April 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM PDT/1:00-2:00 PM EDT/20:00-21:00 Israel time (first three one hour earlier)
In this powerful eight-part series, Prof. Stephen Berk examines the Holocaust not as an inevitable tragedy, but as a series of deliberate choices made by governments, institutions, and individuals across Europe. Moving chronologically and geographically, he explores how centuries-old antisemitism evolved into state-sponsored genocide and how moments of action or inaction shaped the fate of millions. Part 1, “The Oldest Hatred and the Rise of Hitler,” traces the deep roots of European antisemitism and analyzes how economic crisis, political instability, and propaganda transformed prejudice into Nazi policy.
**Member’s Only
Beyond The Dinner Party Judy Chicago’s “Herstory” with Dr Sharon Keller
Thursday March 12, 2026
12:30-1:30 PM PDT/3:30-4:30 PM EDT/21:30-22:30 Israel time
Join us for a powerful CSP exclusive inspired by Judy Chicago: Herstory, the landmark retrospective that returned one of America’s most influential artists to the center of the New York art world. Long marginalized within male-dominated movements, Chicago reclaims her place as both a pioneering feminist artist and a cultural historian who elevates voices excluded from the canon. The exhibition also explores her Jewish identity and the broader question of how artists create meaning in spaces that have historically silenced them.
The Israeli Soundscape A Journey Through Jazz, Pop, and Rock with Yael Cherni
Tuesdays March 17, 24 & 31, 2026
10:00-11:00AM PDT/1:00-2:00 PM EDT/19:00-20:00 Israel time / 31st 20:00 – 21:00
Explore the high-energy evolution of Israeli music from the 1970s to today in this dynamic three-part series. Discover how Eastern and Western influences fused to create a uniquely Israeli sound across jazz, pop, and rock. Together, we’ll uncover the identity, politics, and passion behind the melodies that shaped a nation.
Ancient Echoes, Modern Verse with Dr Eve Grubin
Thursday March 19, 2026
12:30-1:30 PM PDT/3:30-4:30 PM EDT/21:30-22:30 Israel time
Discover the profound dialogue between contemporary poetry and ancient tradition in this immersive session led by Dr. Eve Grubin. By examining the works of modern masters, including Marie Howe, Yehoshua November, Lucille Clifton, Dan Pagis, and Sharon Olds, we will explore how today’s poets breathe new life into the timeless language and philosophy of the Torah, Talmud, and classic commentaries.