"The book bridges the Bible and
today's business world,"the rabbi_told
the Jewish News. He refers to "the
children of Israel" (many unruly
whiners) as Moses' "business staff."
The Ten Commandments would
serve as a modern company's "mission
statement" (attacking theft, adultery
and deception).
"Moses' laws provide the ethical
foundation for Judaism, Islam and
Christianity," said Rabbi Baron. "His
accomplishments and his adherence
to an ethical code are examples of
what leaders should strive for; Moses
was imperfect (he had a speech
impediment and was reluctant to
lead), but he struggled to do what
was right."
Rabbi Baron's philosophy is that "too
many of us still believe we can cutthroat
six days a week and save our souls on
the seventh. In truth, the deal we make
on Tuesday carries as much moral
weight as the prayers we recite on
Saturday and Sunday. In the book, I try
to demonstrate how you can balance
business with ethics — and succeed."
The book is divided into three
major parts: Delivering the Message
— issues of communication and
motivation; Leading in the
Wilderness — tactics Moses used to
galvanize his people; and Living by
the Code — exploring some of the
ethical guidelines Moses created.
In addition to biblical references,
the book contains related examples
from the business world, plus
quotes from business experts. Rabbi
Baron interviewed 30 CEOs, presi-
dents and middle management exec-
utives, including Bob Pittman, pres-
ident of America Online; Sherry
Lansing, CEO of Paramount
Communications; and Edgar
Bronfman Sr., CEO of the multi-
billion-dollar Seagram empire, who
helped negotiate reparations from
Switzerland for Holocaust survivors.
Born in New York, Rabbi Baron
was ordained in Jerusalem and
served congregations in New Jersey
and Miami before heading to
California. He acquired some first-
hand business experience along the
way by forming, in the 1980s, a
successful hedge fund called
Strategic Arbitrage Investment
Group, still in existence. Another
venture is Image Movement
Technology, which generates high-
tech advertising space for companies
and non-profit organizations, such
as placing advertising posters in the
social halls of synagogues.
Rabbi Baron was married for 10
years to former Detroiter and
Mumford High School graduate Ellen
Radner, whom he met when she was
acting and teaching at the University
of Southern California. A cousin of
comedienne Gilda Radner, Ellen
Radner passed away from breast can-
cer seven years ago. Gilda Radner
died earlier of ovarian cancer.
The rabbi and his son Jonathan are
rabid Detroit Red Wing fans who
visit Detroit for playoff games, and to
see Ellen's sister, Rosalind Fink of
Northville. He has re-married and has
two stepdaughters.
Temple Shalom for the Arts
holds High Holiday, Passover and
once-a-monrh Shabbat services at a
Wilshire Boulevard theater, punctu-
ated by musical performances by
such members as singers Theodore
Bikel and Nell Carter (Rabbi Baron
converted her to Judaism) and such
guests as Bette Midler; the
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra doing
opera arias as a prelude ro the
Yizkor service; a 70-voice Swiss
choir and African-American gospel
singers. Congregation members
include movie industry producers,
directors, technicians and others.
Rabbi Baron often appears on
religious TV and radio programs.
He even performed a Jewish wed-
ding on a soap opera, and serves as
a consultant to popular sitcoms "to
make sure Jewish-related dialogue is
correct and Jewish rituals are
depicted accurately.
"The goals of my temple and the
Moses on Management book are sim-
ilar," he said. "I'm on a mission to
reach as many unaffiliated Jews as
possible to bring them back to reli-
gious experiences. The book
addresses the large Jewish popula-
tion segment composed of business
people and deals with their issues
and challenges on a day-to-day
basis, hopefully bringing Moses and
the Bible to life." I
Rabbi David Baron will speak
at Jewish Book Fair noon
Monday, Nov. 11, at the D.
Dan & Betty Kahn Building of
the Jewish Community Center
in West Bloomfield. He is lead-
ing a Lunch & Learn for Jewish
communal professionals spon-
sored by the JCC. The charge
is $10. For reservations, call
(248) 661-7600.
•
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