Intrigue. Murder. Rebellion.

During the siege of Jerusalem on the eve of the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jewish community was rife with infighting and conflict. With this historical backdrop, the Talmud teaches about an aristocrat named Marta bat Beitos and the curious incident that led to her death. Together we will read Marta's story and relevant ancient and modern commentaries, unpacking provocative questions about class, wealth, gender, and the Jewish obligation to care for one another.

Texts will be provided in original Aramaic and English translation. Previous exposure to Talmud is helpful, but not required.

Rabbanit Talia Weisberg (she/her) is a connector, passionate about facilitating rich Jewish experiences and helping people make informed Jewish decisions. She is currently pursuing a PhD in religion at Boston University, received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Maharat, and earned an AB in religion at Harvard University. As a Learning Guide at Lehrhaus, she loves to learn and teach about the weekly parsha, women in Jewish text and tradition, kashrut, and the development of halacha. As a Va’Tichtov fellow, she is working on a book about animals in the Torah. She lives in Cambridge with her family.