teachers, cantors, social and com- munal workers of all kinds are toward k'lal Yisrael, the commu- also leaders) are men of learning nity of Jewry, but to a specific or- and vigor, men whose vigor gives The Meaning of Jewish Leadership By RABBI JACOB NEUSNER Aslistant Professor of Religion Dartmouth College Many Jews present themselves as "N'si-ei Yisrael," as leaders of Israel, and assume office in various ganiaztion alone. Thus we find not loyal Jews, but institutional pa- triots of Bnai Brith, or 'a given synagogue, or, worse still, a syna- Jewish organilations and institu- gogue-movement. One meets •"ver- brennte reform Jews" and "dedi- tions. Our teacher Moses learned quick- cated conservative Jews" whose ly that it is not a light or easy zeal burns not for Judaism in one task to lead the children of Israel. another of its modern expressions, At the same time, Jewish leader- but for the specific institutions ship is , a sacred mission, for we are which embody those expressions. the people whom God called into Indeed, we may in time have to being, and our historical signific- organize an Anti-Defamation ance depend upon Him who created League to work -toward inter-faith the world by his word. ' amity between the several wings in Indeed, Jewish leaders take upon American Judaism. What we have; therefore, are not themselves the most solemn re- sponsiblities, not only toward those active servants of God of Israel, whom they accept into their the Torah, and commandments of charge, the Institutions and organi- Israel through various mundane zations, but also towards Him in institutions. We have rather pro- whose name these things are done. phets in the name of some Jewish « • 41. organiaztion that has caught some- In our Jewish community, what one's fancy. , * are the qualifications of. Jewish We are, therefore, faced with leadership?. They are outlined in the Scriptures. We call to mindAhe many paradoxes among Jewish passage, "Who shall ascend the leaders. mountain of the Lord, and who We find men 'who work day and shall stand in his holy place?" night for PJA, including the Sab- Every American Jew knows the bath. We find women who care for answer: "He that contributeth -nothing but Hadassah, including $1,000 annually to the UJA, that the Jewish education of their own buyeth in addition $10,000 of Is- children and themselves. We find rael Bonds, and that liveth more Zionists who care nothing for richly than his neighbor, he shall Judaism, and eJwish War Veterans lord it over my people Israel, and who are indifferent to the struggle rule the children of Jacob." to preserve Judaism in America, Perhaps Scripture .is mi.squated. for the freedom of which they Let us try another verse: "Lord, fought in war after war. who shall sojourn in thy tent and We find Jewish leaders whose Who shall dwell on Thy holy hill?" Jewish hearts do not beat strongly Anyone active in an average enough to bring them to the syna- synagogue knows the answer: "He gogue to pray to- God. that speaketh loud words at meet- We find Jewish leaders who care ings, that useth a big mouth, that complaineth- often and doeth little not at all for the prosperity of the sacred instruments of Jewish cul- and prayeth not but murmureth much .against the rabbi and all his ture in America, who take for granted hte existence of Jewish Ivories, he shall have a chief seat in the congregation of the Lord." 1 newspapers and publishing con- cerns, schools and seminaries, • • • colleges, The truth is that there is little libraries and teachers' and never give a thought to provid- relationship between one's spiritu- al endowment and the position he ing the means for these institutions holds in the jewish community. I to exist. I find no perceptible sense of sacred calling among many of those who rise and call themselves presidents. This writer recently met a con- gregational president •who consid- ered it an affront to be told that he should attend synagogue serv- ices regularly, and who looked upon the congregational rabbi as his nursemaid and servant. As it happens, he is out looking for a new rabbi. The more serious problem is not that Jewish leaders are immature or stupid, though many are. It is that the greater -number of Jewish leaders exhibit little sense of inter- est in, or responsibility toward, the entire Jewish community and its general welfare, and are abysmally ignorant of the ideals for which that Jewish community is consti- tuted. Many wo regard themselves as "Jewish leaders" are not "lead- ing Jews" in any meaningful sense of these words. ' , Indeed, we find Jewish leaders who are glad to use English-Jew- ish newspapers to serve the good causes they care for, but who consider it an affront to be asked to pay for a subscription or take out an advertisment. After all— they are Jewish leaders. Publicity is theirs by right, and as "lead- ers" that is what they cherish most of all. • S S effect to their learning, and whose learning gives meaning to their vitality. Some, but not most. Who are the others? They area those of whom Scripture speaks t Proverb§ 1.22)4 "How long, o simple minded, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Because they . hated knowledge and did not choose fear of the Lord, Would have none of my coun- sel and despised all my re- _ proof, Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, And be sated with their own devices." In other words,. we have the leaders we deserve, some good, some bad, some truly Jewish lead- ers of vision and breadth of soul and mind, and some functionally atheistic leaders who think they could save the world if only they could raise the money, and who do not even know that they them- selves are lost. And we, those -who are led, stumble like lost sheep while we are devoured in our golden sheep- fold, one by one, by kindly wolves so glad to see the flock of Israel diminish, and we are lost to the Shepherd of Israel. Classified Ails Bring Results NEW DAIRY MEAL TREAT! bravo! bravo! bravissimo! Quite specifically, many who 'ac- cept serious responsibilities and high positions - within Jewry care very little for what Jewry stands for, for what Jewish affairs mean ultimately. We have Jewish leaders whose ignorance of Jewish beliefs and indifference to Jewish reli- gious practices deter them not at all from "leading," even from ex- pounding Judaism to whoever might listen (particularly if he is not Jewish). - These same leaders are impen- trably indifferent, as I said, to The interest, love. and loyalty of these presidents are not directed . 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