Verses

Verses

Welcome to Verses: Where Broadway and Torah Meet, a place to geek out on Broadway musicals, Biblical text, and the interplay of the verses in both. On each episode of Verses, Anita Silvert in Chicago selects a song from the Broadway canon and matches it with a selection from the Biblical canon, putting the texts in conversation with one another.

Episodes

Fathers and Sons

May 16, 2024 • 25 mins

Fathers and sons, a most complicated relationship! Join me as we examine the connection that Abraham and Isaac have, along with exploring “Not My Father’s Son” from the Broadway hit, “Kinky Boots” You can follow along with the Biblical text here.

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Why We Tell the Story

April 18, 2024 • 26 mins

Happy Passover! Join Anita as she explores the Exodus story and “Why we tell the Story” from Once on this Island.  You can follow along with the lyrics and the Biblical text here. Feel free to share and follow! And let me know what you like, or would like more/less of here at our Faceook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276

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The King, the Queen, and the Conman

March 20, 2024 • 21 mins

We'll look at the story of Esther for the holiday of Purim, and bring in a song from "110 in the Shade". Remember to "booooo" when Haman's name comes up! He's the villain in the Book of Esther, and we try to drown out his name! Here's the source sheet for the Biblical text https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/552216?editor=1

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West Side Story’s AMERICA w/ The Sin of the Spies

March 20, 2024 • 26 mins
The land you have always wanted to go to turns out not to be what you expected as hosts Anita and Rabba Rachel discuss the connections between immigrants to America in West Side Story and the Promised Land. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/356735?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/94118206349...
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JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT w/ The Text of Joseph

March 28, 2023 • 34 mins
Does clothing make the man? What role does clothing play in Joseph's story? Join Rachel and Anita as they compare the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and the Biblical text of Joseph, as seen through the lens of clothing. Follow along on the source sheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/463601?editor=1
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Jekyll and Hyde’s CONFRONTATION w/ The Story of Jacob and Esau

March 21, 2023 • 27 mins
Who was Jacob struggling with when the "man" confronted him? The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells of a man whose internal struggle ends badly. What about Jacob's struggle? Join Anita and Rachel as they connect the song "Confrontation" from Jekyll and Hyde to Jacob's struggle with the angel. Follow along on the source sheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/463599?lang=bi
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Children of Eden’s AIN’T IT GOOD w/ Noah’s Conversation with God

January 2, 2023 • 25 mins
Was Noah just following orders? And what did he really think about the flood, and God's decision? This week Rachel and Anita pair Children of Eden's take on Noah's conversation with God, and the text itself. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/427401?lang=bi
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Children of Eden’s THE FLOOD w/ The Story of Noah

December 19, 2022 • 27 mins
Was Noah just following orders? What did he really think about the flood, and God's decision? This week Anita and Rachel pair Children of Eden's take on Noah's conversation with God, and the text itself. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/427401?lang=bi
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Children of Eden’s THE MARK OF CAIN w/ Cain and Abel

December 5, 2022 • 25 mins
What causes a brother to kill another brother? What led to the struggle between Cain and Abel? Join Rachel and Anita for two different takes on the story, (with a lot in common!), one from Genesis text, and the other from "The Mark of Cain" from the 1991 Stephen Schwartz musical Children of Eden. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/418733?lang=bi
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CAMELOT w/ The Garden of Eden

November 29, 2022 • 25 mins
Paradise: what creeps in to make it crumble? Join Rachel and Anita as they explore "Camelot" from Camelot, and the text from Genesis and the Garden of Eden. Follow along at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/418659?lang=bi
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The Apple Tree’s BEAUTIFUL WORLD w/ The Tree of Life

November 7, 2022 • 27 mins
As Verses' second season continues Rachel and Anita ask if it all started with the apple and wonder what it was like for Adam to see this brand new world in an episode pairing the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and the 1966 show "The Apple Tree" with its song "Beautiful World”. Follow along on the Sourcesheet at https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/443328?lang=bi sefaria.org apple-touch-icon.png
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Sunday in the Park with George’s COLOR AND LIGHT w/ In the Beginning

October 20, 2022 • 24 mins
With the launch of Season 2 the spotlight falls on God, the Ultimate Artist! Join Rachel and Anita as they explore "Color and Light" from Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" and the opening lines of Bereshit, when God creates the universe and made order out of chaos. Follow along to this episode with the Sefaria sourcesheet at: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/409646?lang=bi
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Fiddler on the Roof’s ANATEVKA w/ The Exodus from Slavery in Egypt

April 4, 2022 • 25 mins
The Passover miniseries concludes as Rachel and Anita explore what it means to be on the edge of what came before and what's coming next, bringing together Fiddler on the Roof's well-known finale 'Anatevka' and the story of the exodus from slavery in Egypt. Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's website at https://www.anitasilvert.com/ Visit the ...
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The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd’s FEELING GOOD w/ Exodus & Deuteronomy

March 29, 2022 • 27 mins
In part 2 of the Passover mini series Anita and Rachel look at freedom in a conversation bringing together 'Feeling Good' from The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd, and pairing it with texts from Exodus and Deuteronomy. Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's website at https://www.anitasilvert.com/ Visit the Jewish Living Lab at ww...
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Once on This Island’s WHY WE TELL THE STORY w/ Exodus

March 22, 2022 • 25 mins
You know the old saying that God made humans because God likes stories? Tune in for this episode as hosts Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold and Anita Silvert kick off a special Passover mini-series with "Why we tell the Story" from Once on This Island paired with a text from Exodus. Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's website at https://www.anitasilve...
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Come From Away’s BLANKETS & BEDDING w/ The Hospitality of Abraham

March 1, 2022 • 24 mins
How do you make someone feel truly welcomed? When a stranger shows up, sent by fate, whether in Gander on 9/11 or with Abraham in the bible, these people know how to make a guest feel at home. link to source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/304290?lang=bi Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's website at https://www.anitasilvert.com/ Visit ...
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110 in the Shade’s RAIN SONG w/ Honi the Circlemaker

February 14, 2022 • 23 mins
Rain is a blessing; not enough or too much, it can be a curse. Join hosts Anita and Rachel as they splash through the Rain Song from "110 in the Shade", pairing it with the story of Choni the Circlemaker. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/295694?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/94118206349127...
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The Secret Garden’s I HEARD SOMEONE CRYING w/ Moses at the Burning Bush

January 25, 2022 • 26 mins
Do you notice those suffering around you? Do you pay attention and ask how to help? Join Anita and Rabba Rachel as they match Secret Garden's "I Hear Someone Crying" and the story of Moses at the Burning Bush. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/306736?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/9411820634...
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Pippin’s CORNER OF THE SKY w/ the Book of Ecclesiastes

January 4, 2022 • 25 mins
In the search for the meaning of life, what matters most? Love? Wealth? Pleasures? How old you are? Anita and Rabba Rachel discuss Pippin and how it relates to the Book of Ecclesiastes. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/370926?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's web...
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Into the Woods’ PROLOGUE w/ Lech L’cha

December 14, 2021 • 28 mins
Why do you start on a journey? What do you want? And what do you take with you from the journey? Listen to the conversation about Abraham and the fairy tale characters of Into the Woods. Read the Biblical text and the song lyrics on this Sefaria source sheet. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/359097?editor=1 Join the Verses Facebook group to continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/941182063491276 Visit Anita's w...
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