EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Attracting Jewish Leaders The roots of PLP run deep into Jewish Detroit. PLP is the ay you are a secular Jew — unaffiliated with a syna- brainchild of our Federation CEO, Robert Aronson. PLP co- gogue, unconnected communally, indifferent toward founders include local mega-philanthropists Bill Davidson and Israel. You don't seek out Jewish services or programs. Marcia and Eugene Applebaum. Bill Berman and Stanley You don't care about Jewish leadership. Frankel are local PLP donors. The New York-based Jewish But should you be concerned about who is at the helm of Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and the Tulsa-based the Jewish community and what it offers the hungry, sick, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation also sup- young or aging? port PLP. New Yorker Michael Steinhardt is chairman of Yes! Jewish Renaissance Media, owner of the Detroit Jewish News. Concern for the less fortunate is central to being Jewish. It's PLP is based in L.A. because Aronson wanted Uziel, who a Judaic tenet, however Torah observant you are. So, clearly, now lives there, to head it. She's a Southfield High graduate the organized Jewish world that serves us and past Camp Tamarack counselor. Her background includes hinges on the professionals who lead us. 13 years on the Washington staff that serves university Hillels. But we can't force uninterested Jews to feel Uziel's optimism about our Jewish future uplifts at a time a part of this world. when so many of us wonder if our kids and grandkids, amid They must have the will to resist the deeper Jewish assimilation and acceptance, will enjoy a vigor- tugs of assimilation, ignorance and apathy. ous Jewish community 20 years from now It's easier to be a proud Her letter in the PLP's just-released 2005 American who happens to study convinced me that we may be headed be Jewish than a proud Jew ROBERT A. who also is proud to be an SKLAR American. Stirring the Editor imagination and excitement Rhoda Weisman Uziel: of uninvolved Jews thus becomes the key to winning them over to par- Driving hard to engage a ticipation in and support of the Jewish commu- new generation of Jewish nity. We'll remain a people only if we have ral:- lying points and effective leadership. communal leaders. Leadership is now on Detroit Jewry's radar given that several local communal leaders have announced career moves. Their workloads will be covered through hires, promotions and work toward a Jewish leadership crisis but we also consolidation, but attracting top-tier candidates can avert it. The serum lies in our 20- and 30- to fill any vacancies won't be easy. somethings building successful lives from their wisdom and Nationwide, the candidate pool is beginning to refill slowly. dreams, while parlaying their skills and experience toward the More Jews in their 20s and 30s with a Big Ten, Ivy League or greater good of something they care about: their Jewish identi- other well-regarded degree, and who are leaders in business, law, medicine, science, public service or the arts, are pursuing tY. What turns off future leaders? Jewish institutions that reject paid or volunteer Jewish leadership opportunities. new ideas, keep mediocre leaders, lack the heart to take calcu- Why? lated risks and don't resist wasteful duplicated services — all of "Because of all the things they can spent their time on and which are out of step with a more questioning generation. give their talents to, they're finding that enhancing and grow- Uziel cited this promising finding of the PLP study, done by ing Jewish life brings profound meaning, terrific connections Brandeis University's Cohen Center for Modern Jewish and networking, new job opportunities and lasting relation- Studies: a high percentage of professionals, so crucial to stay- ships," says Rhoda Weisman Uziel, executive director of the Professional Leaders Project (PLP), a bold national initiative to ing in prime on the Jewish communal lifecycle, expressed average to above-average satisfaction with their work lives. assure a steady flow of Jewish leaders from generation to gen- I'm not stunned by the study's recommendations for raising eration. the bar: coordinated recruitment, subsidized training, continu- Last year, PLP's first class included more than 100 social ing education, controlled time demands, entrepreneurs, from Detroit and else- family-friendly policies, improved career where, who have a zest for Judaism. The Points to Ponder ladders, no gender bias, mentor-minded project strives to make Jewish communal supervisors, competitive wages, enhanced work appealing to rising stars finishing respect for communal workers. degree work, in postgraduate studies or Would you encourage a Excellence must drive the Professional job hunting. Not surprising, Jewish young person who is Leaders Project. Its standards cannot wilt. camps, schools and youth groups com- considering Jewish Our collective support must be strong. prise the primary gateway into Jewish sec- communal work? Other major Jewish groups must be in tor work. sync. Today, PLP alumni volunteer, mentor Do you worry about the Take it from Rhoda Weisman Uziel: and lead because Jewish values and tradi- state of American Jewry "Outstanding 20- and 30-somethings tions resound. Young adults already and its leadership have choices to do just about anything plugged in to the Jewish community have 15 years from now? with their time. We must give them the a leg up on drawing their uninspired righ t reasons to choose us and keep choos- Jewish peers to the joy that is Judaism cul- The Jewish Sector's ing us." ❑ turally if not religiously. Workforce study: www.jewishleaders.net JIMMY 0100 FOR TENDER 271 WEST MAPLE DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHA 248.258.0212 SUNDAY 12-5 MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-6 THURSDAY EVENINGS 'TIL orN 6/ 2 2005 5