Adult Education Course with Rabbi Bell: Power, Leadership, and the Moral Life of a Nation - Class 2

The books of I and II Samuel are among the Bible's richest explorations of leadership, power, family, faith, and the complexities of human nature. Across four sessions, we will read these remarkable narratives not simply as ancient history, but as enduring reflections on questions that continue to shape our lives and our society including: What kind of government best serves a people? How should a society choose those who govern? What makes a great leader? How do institutions gain or lose the public's trust? What do we owe those with whom we disagree? Together, we will study the biblical text alongside classical rabbinic commentary and contemporary voices, discovering how these compelling stories continue to illuminate our own communities, institutions, relationships, and civic life. Along the way, we will encounter a cast of unforgettable figures— including Hannah, Samuel, Saul, Jonathan, David, Abigail, and Bathsheba—whose triumphs, failures, and moral struggles remain strikingly relevant today. Whether you are opening Samuel for the first time or returning to these stories after many years, you are warmly invited to join a thoughtful and engaging conversation. No prior Hebrew knowledge is required —only curiosity, an open mind, and a willingness to wrestle with timeless questions that are every bit as urgent today as they were three thousand years ago.