4. Ḥachamim: Introduction (Part 4)

In this week’s class, we continue our introduction to the Ḥachamim series by exploring the power—and danger—of hagiography. Why do we tell certain stories about our sages and leave others out? Is too much truth uncomfortable because it makes great figures seem too human, while distortion turns them into saints? Rabbanit Dr. Devorah Halevy examines the noble and ignoble sides of storytelling and what our choices reveal about how we remember, teach, and idealize the past. (1/8/2026) In this series, we encounter remarkable Ḥachamim whose lives illuminate the great currents of Jewish history — their writings, their struggles, their leadership, and their enduring wisdom. Together, we will travel through the centuries, discovering the soul of our people, one sage at a time. "Ḥachamim: Exploring Jewish History Through the Lives of Our Sages" is an exciting new class series taught by Rabbanit Dr. Devorah Halevy at the Shiviti Bet Midrash. — Rabbanit Devorah Halevy's official YouTube channel! Subscribe for the newest audio and video coming out of Shiviti/Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim! Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim www.kshsd.org Shiviti www.shiviti.org Personal Website www.devorahhalevy.com