Taking the Lead BOFTY TAKES REGIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS Page 16
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TEMPLE BETH EL OF BOCA RATON MARCH/APRIL 2018 | ADAR/NISAN/IYYAR 5778 Taking the Lead BOFTY TAKES REGIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS page 16 Beth El Bash page 5 Israel’s 70th pages 6-7 Leadership BY RABBI DAN LEVIN [email protected] Fifteen years ago, when I learned personal humility and professional that I would be returning to Temple will.” Even more than the visionary Beth El as Senior Rabbi, I set aside leadership of a Level Four leader, my pile of books on Jewish theology, a Level Five leader makes his/her and began to dive into a new genre - leadership more about the company, management and leadership. the cause, than about him/herself. One of the most important books It’s not about them — it’s about the I read was Jim Collins’ “Good To service they render. Great.” In this bestseller, the Stanford What’s amazing to see in the Torah professor examines companies is how Moses, the greatest leader our in different industries which hit a people ever knew, grows through each transition point and went, as he says, of these steps. He begins as a Level One “from good to great.” He observed — simply a good Prince of Egypt and patterns that contributed to each later a good shepherd. He then learns For our congregation to be the company’s success. And among the to be God’s partner and the manager vibrant and compelling center of patterns he identified, one that stuck of his partnership with Aaron; more Jewish life we all desire, we need as out prominently was the kind of than just the inspiring leader of the many people as possible to join in its leadership at each company. Israelites, but someone who literally leadership. Some will lead by taking Collins identified five levels of puts his life on the line to help his on a volunteer task and doing their leadership. Level One involves people through the wilderness. It is a best. Others will lead by working someone who is a highly capable model I strive to embrace every day. together toward a project or goal. individual. Just doing your best every day is an expression of leadership in and of itself. Level Two leaders are good team members. As all of What’s amazing to see in the us know, it’s one thing to work on Torah your own, but a much more difficult is how Moses, the greatest thing to work well in partnership, to collaborate with a group. leader our people ever knew, Level Three leaders are competent managers. Working on a team is grows through each of these steps. hard — managing a team is harder. Managing the work of others and gathering the resources for everyone to achieve their goals requires distinct Our congregation has been blessed Some may volunteer to lead a group, leadership skills. for fifty years with all kinds of and others may be asked to serve on Level Four leaders effectively leaders - men and women who have the Board as a trustee or an officer. “catalyze a commitment to and helped Temple Beth El to grow, and Our tradition teaches that all of the a vigorous pursuit of a clear and the Jewish community to flourish. ways we choose to lead are holy. The compelling vision.” These are the Since 1996, I have been privileged Hebrew word for worship - Avodah mega leaders — the well-known to work with amazing professional - is also the same word for service. CEOs, who lead by virtue of their colleagues and extraordinary When we give our time and talent personal charisma. volunteers who bring their time, to our congregation and community, But Level Five leaders are different. wisdom, and acumen to leading our we are ultimately giving a gift to the They combine a “paradoxical blend of synagogue every single day. Holy One. March April 2018 | THE CHRONICLE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT SAVE THE Jewish Leadership DATE TEMPLE BETH EL’S BY MARK SUNSHINE TEMPLE BETH EL PRESIDENT [email protected] Annual Meeting This month’s Chronicle assignment was and Dinner particularly challenging, i.e., discussing Wednesday, May 23, 2018 “leadership” while relating my thoughts to 6:00pm Dinner Jewishness and Beth El within a limit of 350 6:45pm Annual Meeting, Volunteer words. Beth El Bash After a lot of thought, I was able to identify Awards and the Year in Review three leadership traits that I believe are quintessentially “Jewish” and characterize daily life at Beth El. These traits also resonate with to lead from behind, and the most important me because they are things that I try to do in my persons in the Torah set the standard for Western personal, professional and congregational life. civilization through personal example. Please note that the traits discussed below apply only to consensual leaders. Dictators and 3. “Officers eat last” despots typically do the opposite of consensual This is a core value of the U.S. Military, leaders. particularly the Marines. Successful officers understand that their most important 1. High ethical and moral standards responsibility is the welfare of their troops. The People don’t voluntarily follow leaders they don’t greatest leaders intuitively understand that rank trust. This simple truism applies to membership brings greater responsibility, not better privilege. organizations, businesses and religions. Providing the best food and provisions to The core of Jewish life and learning is ethics subordinates speaks volumes about caring for and morality. From ancient times through modern one’s fellow man regardless of rank or station. times, Jews have been taught that it is important There is no exemption for any group of Jews to to take the high road rather than the short path. avoid personal responsibility for their acts, and everyone is responsible for the welfare of their 2. “Lead from the front” and don’t fellow man. hide from responsibility Beth El’s clergy, professional staff and lay The best leaders don’t hide behind their position leadership team are extraordinary — through to avoid risk or effort. True leaders assume their everyday actions they are role models who greater risk than the most junior person they are embody each of the above traits and values. leading. And great leaders set the organizational It is the “secret sauce” that makes Beth El one standard for work ethic. of the most unique and blessed congregations Jewish leaders don’t know what it means of our time. Claire Adalman Bernice Hoenig Welcome Brenda and Carlin Axelrod Chelsey Kesten and Justin Stern NEW AND Leslie and Peter Bakshi Nicole and Chris Kingman and their son, Wyatt RETURNING Eric Fingerhut Selma Koppelman MEMBERS Leslie Firestone and Marshall Isaacson Hedda Lane For help getting involved, Myrna and Myron Ginsberg Casey and Jonathan Levin and their son, Ellis please contact Elinor Josephson, Sharon Buchhalter Goldstein and Adrian Bonnie and David Rosner Director of Engagement Buchhalter and Programming, at Donna Weiss [email protected] Carrie and James Greenberg Elena and Sherwin Wigodner or 561-391-8900. 4 THE CHRONICLE | tbeboca.org SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018 with the hilarious Dave Barry Schaefer Family Campus Beth5:30pm SponsorEl Meet & Greet Bash and Book Signing with Dave Barry 6:30pm Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Dancing and Comedy Benefiting Temple Beth El Scholarship and Financial Aid programs. $200 per person | $150 per person age 40 and under Sponsorship opportunities available. Space is very limited, so RSVP early at tbeboca.org/beth-el-bash Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and author who has written more than 30 books, two of which were the basis for the CBS sitcom “Dave’s World.” Dave’s most recent book, “For This We Left Egypt? A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them,” is a hilarious take on the Passover Seder. There’s a whole side of Israel that’s just beginning to be discovered and appreciated — the wonders of Israeli cuisine. CULINARY Meet the chefs and enjoy the culinary delights of the best restaurants in Tel Aviv. Explore street food vendors, markets, TOUR wineries, cheesemakers, farms and ancient olive presses throughout the Israeli countryside. Learn about Israeli history, culture and spirituality through the richness of its many tastes OF ISRAEL and abundant treasures. See the Israel the way you’ve never EVERY MEAL seen it before. For information and early booking details, contact Elinor TELLS A STORY Josephson, Director of Engagement and Programming at October, 2018 [email protected] or 561-391-8900 ARE YOU A But it’s the atmosphere that made me fall in love with eating FOODIE? Israeli-style. The best restaurants aren’t hushed culinary “ temples but festive rooms full of people having fun.* *Forbes Magazine, January 12, 2017, “Why Israel just Might have the World’s Best Restaurant Scene.” March April 2018 | THE CHRONICLE 5 in ScholarUR Residence L T NS AE 7 R 0 S I FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018 48 Dr. Rachel Korazim 19 7:30pm Kaballat Shabbat S Israel Diaspora Relations: April 27-28, 2018 E B T ET A Changing Narratives Schaefer Family Campus H BR EL CELE Reflecting on more than one hundred years of Have you ever had a teacher who Jewish and Zionist history, this service will explore you never forget? Rachel Korazim early images of Israel in the eyes of Diaspora Jews is THAT teacher. She brings Israel alive through her utter adoration for as well as images of the Diaspora in Israel. The the state and its literature. proximity of the Holocaust to the birth of the state As a teacher at some of Israel’s of Israel had a lot to do with these images.