Portraits in Leadership:
The lives and the wisdom of eight Sages of the Talmud

One part biography, one part history, all parts inspiration

6 Wednesdays starting February 10, 2010

Morning Course: 9:30am – 10:30am

Evening Course: 7:30pm - 8:30pm

 Do you find yourself caught amidst trying times, uncertain about your future? Are you struggling to muster the inner resources to move forward? Experience a breathtaking saga of six leaders who paved the road to Jewish destiny. With the rise of Rome came the fall of Jerusalem. But through the strength of their personalities and the wisdom of their hearts, these men and women transformed a tale of uncertain future to one of resilience and renewal. See how timeless values helped our people weather their darkest hours. These portraits of uncompromising courage and character are sure to calm your fears, infuse you with hope, and inspire you to unleash the power within.

Course Overview

Lesson One: Hillel the Elder, 110 bce - 10 ce
To say Hillel was humble would be an understatement. But to call him a pushover would be a lie. Meet the man who had patience and respect for those who seemed to least deserve it.

Lesson Two: Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai, 30 - 90 ce
You could call him a revolutionary, but it wasn’t the government he overthrew — it was his own teachers and colleagues. Courageous in the face of criticism, Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai daringly proposed a solution that no one else dared consider.

Lesson Three: Rabbi Eliezer, 1st century ce
He was willing to sacrifice everything in his life except truth. The loss of influence, esteem, and position could not force him to bend. Rabbi Eliezer was willing to endure loneliness, but found solace in his own absolute integrity.

Lesson Four: Rabbi Akiva, Rachel, ~50 - 135 ce,
Here was a man who should have called it quits before he started. But, buoyed by the encouragement of Rachel, his wife, Rabbi Akiva showed the tenacity and resilience to build and rebuild again.

Lesson Five: Rabbi Meir, Beruriah, 2nd century ce
A maverick who refused to toe the party line, his brilliance was matched only by that of his wife, Beruriah. Maintaining contacts in places that others dared not go, Rabbi Meir earned the trust of those who could admire him but could never really understand him.

Lesson Six: Rabbi Judah the Prince, 135 - 219 ce
He did not wait for crisis to force his hand. Creating alliances and carefully cultivating friendships, Judah the Prince used his influence to secure the well-being of our people. He then took on the daunting, monumental task of recording a generation of oral tradition.

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