The Honey Foundation for Israel COMMUNITY SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF ISRAELI JUDAISM
Mapping
Initiator: The Honey Foundation for Israel Led by: Limor Rubin, Israel CEO, The Honey Foundation for Israel Research, Development, and Presentation Authorship: Dr. Liora Pascal, The Foundation’s Advisor on Evaluation and Measurement
October, 2020 Without data, you're just another ״ person with an opinion. W. Edwards Deming ״- Contents
• The Honey Foundation for Israel’s Mission • Background and Mapping Objectives • Methodology • Key Topics in the Mapping Questionnaire > Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Background Attributes of Rabbis and Community Spiritual Leaders Chapter B Community Leadership and Peer Groups Chapter C Self Assessment Role Perception and Approach to Community Leadership > Items for Discussion and Consideration The Honey Foundation for Israel is a strategic philanthropic foundation which envisions open access to diverse Jewish life in Israel and strives to broaden and develop varied Jewish communities in Israel. We believe that diverse, professional, inspiring, inclusive and open community spiritual leadership is the catalyst for this social change. The Foundation is guided by pluralistic Jewish The Honey values and invests in the existence of a free market Foundation whose richness reflects Israeli society and the for Israel’s entire Jewish world. Mission (Excerpt from The Foundation’s Strategic Plan for 2020-2023)
The Honey Foundation for Israel initiated in mid- 2020 a comprehensive process for mapping community leaders, with the aim of identifying and defining the required needs for developing knowledge, tools and capabilities in the professional field of Jewish communities in Israel. This mapping, which enables to ascertain needs in both the individual - community leader - level, and the community of leaders as a whole (peer group), Background aims to assist the foundation in implementing its & Mapping work plans, while creating focus and prioritization Objectives in the foundation’s investments. The mapping findings might become a significant knowledge resource for recruiting and pooling resources invested in the field in the area of Jewish communities’ development and among the philanthropic community in Israel. This mapping will serve as a baseline for systematic tracking of the development of community spiritual leadership in the field of Israeli Judaism, which Background operates with HFI’s support, so that ultimately & Mapping it will be possible to evaluate the impact of the Objectives foundation’s investments in this area. For this mapping, a unique online questionnaire for a community Rabbi / spiritual leader was developed, which included open-ended and closed-ended questions on a variety of topics, as detailed further in this presentation. In developing this tool, we were aided by ten long-serving community leaders, who acted as a pilot group in evaluating the relevance and quality of the questionnaire. In May 2020, the questionnaire was distributed to 150 community leaders in Israel, with the Methodology assistance of The Honey Foundation. In June-July 2020, two reminders were sent to respondents. In August 2020, The Honey Foundation launched a special campaign to add new communities to the foundation, and through the campaign additional respondents were recruited to participate in the mapping. In total, the questionnaire process yielded 63 respondents (45% response rate), although some respondents did not reply to all questions, therefore the number of respondents in the findings presentation varies from question to Methodology question. 1. Background Attributes: Education, rabbinical ordination, educational institution for ordination, family status, work status, method of selection for the role of community Rabbi / spiritual leader, employment scope Key Topics in (number of weekly work hours) as a community the Mapping leader (current state vs. desired state) and self Questionnaire definition for Jewish identity. 2. Community Leadership and Peer Groups: Community leadership characteristics, compatibility of leadership style and the community’s needs, tools and skills required for the community leader, participation in Key Topics in mentoring, membership in a peer group, the Mapping needs, expectations and preferred frequency Questionnaire for participation in a peer group. 3. Self Assessment: Leaders’ outlook and views in the following areas: development of Jewish spiritual leadership, inclusivity and containing ability and the acknowledgment of diversity and otherness, coping with challenges in the community, learning and personal spiritual growth, building and developing a community, bonding and unifying members of the community, appreciation and Key Topics in recognition in leading the community, connection the Mapping to other communities / community leaders and Questionnaire entrepreneurship and innovation. Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A
Background Attributes of Rabbis and Community Spiritual Leaders Education (N=64)
High school / 2000-1991 Doctoral non-academic Pre-1990 degree post-secondary 6% 6% 10% 5%
Bachelor's Master’s 2010-2001 2020-2011 degree degree 40% 49% 23% 62%
Completion year of last degree Education
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Family Status (N=58)
More than 6% children 5 Divorced 5 4% 2%
4 11% In a relationship 5% 3 39% Single 2 13% 7%
1 19% Married No children 9% 86%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Rabbinical Ordination
2000-1991 (N=63) 7% No 30%
Yes 70% 2010-2001 2020-2011 39% 54% Community leaders Ordination completion year Rabbinical ordination
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Educational Institution for Ordination
Schechter Institute 37%
(N=41) HUC 24%
Other 15%
Temura 10%
Hartman Institute 7% Other: Yeshivat Siach-Yitzhak, International JTS 5% Institute for Chiloni Humanistic Judaism in Lindenbaum Seminary 2% the US, Marshall T. Meyer Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, Abraham Geiger College in Berlin and more.
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A
Work Status (N=59) Not employed 2%
Self employed 14%
Employed outside Employed in the the community community 24% 61%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Method of Organization selection for or movement Members of 9% the role of the community 25% community Rabbi / spiritual leader Personal initiative Bid (N=53) 26% 40%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A 60 54% Weekly hours invested as community leader 50 (current state)
Weekly hours they would 41% have wanted to spend as 40 community leaders (desired state)
30
22% 19% 20 17% 16% 14%
10 7% 5% 4%
0 Up to 10 hours 11-20 hours 21-30 hours 31-40 hours More than 40 hours Weekly hours invested as community leader Current state vs. desired state (N=57) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Self Religious 20% Masorti 17% definition Conservative 14% for Jewish Reform 12% Chiloni 8% identity Jewish 8% Masorti-dati (traditional-religious) 5% (N=59) Chiloni-Humanistic 5% Other 10%
Other: Cultural person, neo-hasidic, non-defined, don’t know, etc.
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter A Chapter B
Community Leadership and Peer Groups Leadership characteristics of community leaders Community building 39% Spiritual authority 28%
(N=57) Teaching and guidance 16% What do Management and administration 11% Religious authority 7% the leaders 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% invest in?
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B Which leadership qualities Community bonding 31% address the Teaching and guidance 27% communities’ Initiative and creativity 19% needs? Resources recruitment 13% Emotional support 10%
(N=52) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B
What are the tools or skills you Managing a non-prot organization 28% require as a Emotional guidance 26% community Resource management 20% leader? Digital work 15% Professional guidance on learning 11% and teaching from Jewish texts (N=54) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B Support sources for community No Yes leaders 33% 56%
(N=57) Yes No 67% 44%
Membership in a peer group Receiving counseling, with other community leaders guidance or mentoring
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B Revuta 31% Amitei Keillah (Community fellows) -Hamidrasha at Oranim 19% Knesset Harabbanim (The Rabbinical Assembly) 11% Bina 8% Maram (The Reform Rabbinical Council in Israel) 8% Rikma - David Lazar 8% Makhilim - Arie Haskin 6% Beit Hilel 3% The network of Communities for Jewish Renewal 3% Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbinate - Hartman Institute and Hamidrasha at Oranim 3%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Membership / participation in a peer group (N=36) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B
Would you be willing to No Yes join a peer 11% 89%
1.00.80.60.40.20.0 group and Don't know / depends 6% on workload and busyness how often? Less than once a month 16% (N=51) Once a month or more 78% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B Professional knowledge 16% 84% How sharing Analysis of test cases & real-life * 10% 24% 65% *2% dilemmas important is Knowledge expansion on spiritual leadership * 10% 41% 45% *4% (guest lecturers) Knowledge expansion it to include on topics of community * 10% 20% 66% *4% management (guest lecturers)
Reciprocal visits in * the following dierent communities 22% 39% 35% *4%
Listening, sharing & activities emotional support 10% 18% 43% 29% Beit midrash limud & in the peer analysis of Jewish texts 8% 27% 35% 29% Fun activity as a break & opportunity to “recharge” 16% 24% 39% 22% group? (routine change) Piyyut, singing and nigun 14% 25% 31% 29%
(N=51) Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter B Chapter C
Self Assessment Role Perception & Approach to Community Spiritual Leadership My leadership is relevant to my spiritual life as well as to the needs of my community * 11% 85% *4%
I have a sense of responsibility to Jewish community spiritual leadership as life’s mission * 9% 87% *4%
I regularly lead rituals relating to the Jewish annual calendar (Jewish holidays & days of observance) *4% 22% 73% *2%
I empower members of the community to fulll their potential in areas relating to personal and spiritual growth 7% 51% 42%
I am a source for consultation and for addressing questions on spiritual or personal matters * 9% 49% 40% *2%
I regularly lead rituals relating to the Jewish circle of life (wedding, birth, bar-mitzvah, mourning) 9% 25% 24% 42%
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Jewish community spiritual leadership (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I regularly lead rituals relating 100% Jewish to the Jewish circle of life 73% (wedding, birth, bar-mitzvah, mourning) 68% 44% community 100% I regularly lead rituals relating to the 100% Jewish annual calendar (Jewish holidays & days of observance) 91% spiritual 94% 100% I am a source for consultation and for 100% addressing questions on spiritual or personal matters 85% leadership 81% 83% I empower members of the community 100% to fulll their potential in areas relating according 95% to personal and spiritual growth 88% 100% My leadership is relevant to my to Jewish 100% spiritual life as well as to the needs of my community 95% 94% identity 100% I have a sense of responsibility to 100% Jewish community spiritual leadership as life’s mission 100% definition 88% (N=55) Chiloni Masorti (conservative) Orthodox (religious) Reform
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I know how to deal with conicts in the community 4% 53% 44%
I strive to create new ways of coping with challenges 13% 33% 55% in the community
I see to the remedy of personal hardships in 5% 20% 42% 33% the community
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Coping with challenges in the community (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I regularly engage in Jewish spiritual growth 4% 11% 36% 49%
I allocate time to continuous study of 4% 11% 36% 49% Jewish texts and sources
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Personal Jewish spiritual growth (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C
Jewish spiritual 67% I regularly engage 82% in Jewish spiritual growth growth 91% according 88% 67% to Jewish I allocate time to continuous 100% study of Jewish 86% identity texts and sources definition 81% Chiloni Masorti (conservative) Orthodox (religious) Reform (N=55)
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C Jewish spiritual
94% I regularly engage growth in Jewish spiritual growth according 75% to guidance 90% I allocate time to continuous study of Jewish & mentoring texts and sources 79%
(N=55) Without guided mentoring With guided mentoring
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I make an e ort to be pleasant 13% 87% & welcoming to the community at every opportunity
I attempt to provide new solutions, from the existing * 31% 67% *2% knowledge, to the needs & aspirations of the community I invest in creating added value as a leader by providing 13% 43% 44% solutions to visible or unseen needs arising in the community
I invest in developing educational 24% 27% 49% or social entrepreneurship among members of the community
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Community building and development (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I invest in developing Community educational or social 68% entrepreneurship among members of 88% building & the community With guided mentoring development Without guided mentoring according I invest in creating added value as a leader 84% by providing solutions to to guided visible or unseen needs 94% arising in the community mentoring / I invest in developing educational or social 70% entrepreneurship among membership in members of the community 89% Without a peer group a peer group With a peer group (N=55)
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I invest in developing 85% Bid educational or social 80% Organization or movement entrepreneurship among members of 50% Personal initiative the community 91% Members of the community
Community building and development (entrepreneurship) according to Method of selection for the role of community Rabbi / spiritual leader (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C
I acknowledge the diversity that exists among dierent sectors & people in our community 5% 95% I operate to connect and provide equal participation of community members who are dierent from one another regardless 7% 93% of their approach to Judaism, ethnicity or sexual orientation I represent a view of Judaism that is identical to the way in which my community de nes its 38% 62% approach to Judaism
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Inclusivity and acknowledgment of diverse approaches to Judaism (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I am proud to lead and to act as spiritual leader * 5% 93% *2% in my community
I feel deep appreciation and recognition by the community * 42% 57% *2% for my work as a leader
I am interested in sharing my successes as a leader 9% 25% 65% of the community with others
I feel a need to publicize the successes of our community 31% 29% 40%
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Appreciation and recognition in leading the community (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I initiate social activities that promote arevut hadadit among members 4% 25% 38% 33% of the community I invest in connecting couples, singles or 11% 45% 44% families to our community
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Bonding and unifying members of the community (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C
Bonding members of
67% the community I initiate social activities that promote arevut 82% hadadit among members 73% of the community according to 63%
Jewish identity 83% I invest in connecting 100% couples, singles or definition families to our community 91% 81%
(N=55) Chiloni Masorti (conservative) Orthodox (religious) Reform
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C Bonding members of the community I initiate social activities 65% that promote arevut according hadadit among members of the community 79% to guided With guided mentoring Without guided mentoring mentoring (N=55)
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C Bonding members of the community I initiate social 75% activities that according to promote arevut 40% hadadit among 71% members of the method of selection community 73%
85% I invest in for the role of connecting 100% couples, singles or families to 79% our community community Rabbi / 100% spiritual leader Members of the community Personal initiative
Organization or movement (N=55) Bid
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I feel appreciation for my work by other community 6% 35% 23% 37% leaders in Israel
I feel a sense of belonging to a broad community of 6% 30% 22% 43% community leaders in Israel I feel a responsibility to *4% assist other community * ** 36% 56% leaders to achieve growth **4% in their work
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Connection to other communities / community leaders (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C Connection to other 83% I feel a sense of belonging 40% communities to a broad community of community leaders in Israel 59% 81%
/ community 40% I feel appreciation for my 50% work by other community leaders in Israel 57% leaders 75%
83% according to I feel a responsibility to assist 100% other community leaders to achieve growth in their work 91% Jewish identity 94% definition Chiloni Masorti (conservative) Orthodox (religious) Reform (N=55)
Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C I strive for innovation in the community by engaging in something that is done substantially di erently & not by doing 4% 20% 33% 44% things in a better way
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much
Innovation (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C 87% I strive for innovation in the community by engaging in something that is done substantially di erently & not by doing things in a better way 63%
With guided mentoring Without guided mentoring
Innovation according to guided mentoring (N=55) Mapping Questionnaire Findings Chapter C
Items for Discussion & Consideration • The data on Jewish self definition and on the diversity of the peer group is indicative of the pluralistic nature of the field, which should be maintained and nurtured in the future. • A substantial number of community leaders do not earn their income from leading the community, and therefore it is recommended to examine how their paid work and their service of the community fit together. • It is recommended to clarify and refine the objectives of personal mentoring and to adapt them to the needs of community leaders. • As leadership is mostly driven “from the bottom up” and not just “at the top”, it is recommended to strengthen the initiative and responsibility of community members in order to increase the number of leaders that are selected by members of the community. • It is recommended to examine the benefit of peer group membership to community leaders. • It is recommended to narrow the gap between current state and desired state regarding community leaders’ weekly hours invested in community leadership, in an attempt to avoid burnout situations or high turnover in leadership roles. • It is recommended to strengthen skills relating to management of non-profit organizations and associations as well as offer support and emotional guidance to community leaders. • Community leaders are craving professional knowledge sharing and analysis of test cases and real-life dilemmas. It is recommended to consider developing an educational program or a curriculum that addresses those needs. Thank You
Thank you to the community spiritual leaders who took part in the mapping process.
Thank you to the HFI team in the US: Bill Lipsey, Amy Lipsey, Sarah Lipsey Brokman and Rabbi David Hoffman for their vision, their input and their support.
A special thanks to Limor Rubin for the professional support and consistent assistance to the success of this process.
Dr. Liora Pascal > [email protected]
October, 2020