Kings, Prophets and Priests: The Political Intrigue of Israel’s Monarchy

• Instructor: Rabbi Brian Leiken
• 12 sessions in person or online (hybrid)

Long before "King Bibi" and today's Israeli politics, there were the stories of Israel’s first monarchies and the dramatic political dynamics that led to Israel’s division. Using primary sources (the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles), rabbinic commentary and modern scholarship, we will identify important themes and lessons that can be applied to our own time.

What were the roles of Kings, prophets and priests during this period? We will come to discover narrative arcs that bear striking similarity to some of the greatest Western classical literature. Most importantly, we will come to understand the meaning of both power and responsibility as it relates to Jewish values.