Israel and the Urgency of Leadership

Whether you are a synagogue president or a Jewish communal professional, the chair of an agency board or a member of the clergy, this last week you have been called on to lead in a time of crisis for Israel and the Jewish People. You have witnessed members of your community in mourning, heard cries of anguish and anger, and have sensed the tremulous uncertainty of families and friends.

You have needed to respond quickly while attending to the deep and diverse needs of your community. You have needed to make rapid decisions with uncertain information in a continually changing environment. You have done this carrying with you your own anguish and uncertainty.

We offer you this simple four-fold framework with the hope that it will provide useful guidance in this complex and challenging time:

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I

Leadership begins with yourself. It is your body, your voice, your character that are your tools of leadership. So, what words you say, how you hold your body, and what character strengths you choose to lead with matter.

Begin the day and precede your meetings, by considering these simple sets of questions:

– How am I feeling at this moment? What is my body telling me? What emotions am I bringing with me into my next encounters?

– What is my intention? What do I most hope to accomplish at this next encounter?

– How do I want to lead? With courage? Compassion? Curiosity? How else?

Moreover, we are not perfect. We do not know everything, and we will make mistakes. Don’t try to hide this with a display of false confidence. Be transparent with those you lead. Let them know that you too are in mourning, you too are scared and uncertain as to what will come and what is best for us to do. You are modeling for them how to stand amidst the horrors and uncertainty.

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You

Leadership may begin with you, but it always involves others.

You are likely being barraged by concerns and recommendations, but often what people want is mainly to be seen and to be heard. When someone approaches you begin with simply being present and listening deeply. That’s half your job as a leader – to make people feel that they and their concerns matter.

And, other people are a source of vital perspective and wisdom for you. No leader can see everything that’s at play in a community or organization. Moreover, we all have our own biases built in to how and what we see. Their diverse perspectives will help you see more and see differently. It will help you to “get on the balcony” and see the entire dance floor. You may even notice when your actions are part of the problem you are trying to resolve, allowing you to nimbly shift how you are “dancing” in order to bring greater comfort and harmony to your community.

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Us

Leadership can seem often lonely, but it doesn’t have to be as lonely. Don’t let everything rest upon your shoulders. Give back the work by empowering others to lead with you. Instead of answering all the questions thrown at you, help others to find their own solutions. And, rely on others to get the work done. Many people are ready to help lead and may only be waiting for that tap on the shoulder. Summarily, let the members of the community know they are each responsible for the welfare of one another.

This brings risk with it, but all leadership is risky. Most of the challenges you face will not be solved through quick answers that you can just pull out of your hat. Most challenges require that you and the community adapt – to be more reflective, more flexible and more collaborative. And, you can’t make that happen through commanding it; you need to inspire it. This begins with you modeling reflectiveness, flexibility, and collaboration in ways that the community can see.

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People

In times of crises, it is vital that others feel safe and comforted, even as you embrace the messiness of leadership. But, how do we go beyond this? How might we sustain hope and faith in light of the terror? How might we inspire all of us to work toward a better world even in the midst of mourning?

This is where leadership can truly rise up, by providing a sense of meaningfulness to the chaotic daily events. As leaders, we do this through the words we use and the stories we tell, by embedding what everyone is going through into a larger narrative of purpose, passion, and people. Consider how you might use Biblical stories, poetry and psalms, and your own reflections to connect your community to the Jewish People throughout the world and across the generations past … and the generations to come.

As leaders of our community, how might we make each encounter, each response, each word a moment for healing – healing broken hearts, a fractured community, and a shattered world?

Originally published at naalehbaltimore.org/insights-resources