What happens when Jews rise to positions of influence in societies that are not fully their own?
This six-week adult education series will explore Jewish figures who served in royal courts, governments, and centers of power across history. Beginning with biblical figures such as Joseph, Esther, and Mordecai, we will continue through modern leaders including Benjamin Disraeli, Walther Rathenau, Louis Brandeis, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Joe Lieberman.
We will examine enduring questions about Jewish life in the Diaspora: belonging, influence, loyalty, visibility, vulnerability, and the responsibilities that come with public leadership. Through Jewish texts, history, and biography, we will explore how Jews navigate power while remaining a minority within larger societies.
This course will meet in-person and via Zoom.
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. from September 16-October 21, 2026.
Registration is free and open to all.