President's Conference Day 2 (cont'd): Jewish Leadership in the 21st Century

Featuring: Leslie Wexner (Wexner Foundation), Morlie Levin (Executive Director of Hadassah, WZOA), Erez Eshel (Israeli Academy for Leadership), Yechezkel Dror (JPPPI Founding President), Shalom Saar (Professor, MIT and University of Vienna)

Leslie Wexner noted the importance of mentorship and good values as the basis of leadership, and pointed to morality's roots in Judaism. "We began ethics and justice, and believe in a collective reality. It's important to have moral compass of humanity and civilization."

The reality of assimilation is the flip side of Jewish success and acceptance, said Morlie Levin, advising that leaders have to possess humility, be open to  new ideas, and demonstrate their learnings. Because organizational leaders are generally turned off by structures, organizations have to learn to create programmatic partnerships.

The standout, both because of his youth (age 39, which made him the youngest person on the panel) and because of his passionate delivery, was Erez Eshel, who unleashed--that's the only word for it-- a fiery sermon about leadership excellence. "If we want good leaders, we have to be excellent," he said. "Our leaders are the caricatures, a sometimes grotesque reflection of who we ourselves are. We are people of Truth." Then, in what was perhaps the only pop culture moment in the entire conference, he quoted "that TV show about Julliard" and said "You have to sweat." (I think he meant Fame and the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, but I could be wrong.) "Judaism and leadership are connected," he stated. "Everyone has to be a leader. About dreams and dreamers...dreamers within a generation or two create reality."

Saar said that leadership is about compassion. "We are underled and over managed. Pirkey Avot has all the leadership advice we need. Without inner peace, you can't lead others. We need to mobilize people to help get them there in a way they never dreamed of." This, he concluded, takes self-reliance.

This session was the first one I attended that actually left time for questions at the end. Most of the questions didn't get answered, but the process of considering the questions was interesting.

The first question centered on the under-40 set. "Why are we not involved in the onstage discussion?" one woman demanded.

One rabbi in attendance noted that leadership has changed because of technology. "There are lots of Indians, and very little interest in anyone being Chief," he said, citing the internet's providing equal access to information as having bred an incompetent laity, and a distrust of leadership hierarchy.

"You will never be invited [to be on the panels]," one panelist advised. "You need to take responsibility so next year they'll invite you."

Another question, which went unanswered, was "How do you persuade young educated Israelis to go into politics with leaders all being investigated and stained for life? How do you go into politics without being corrupted?"

One American oleh stood up and said that passion is the foundation for leadership. "You have to love the cause: it's a life, not a job. I wasn't able to do what I wanted in New York."

Saar said that 50 percent of the people at next year's conference should be young leaders and shared his ten c's of leadership: connection, comprehend the landscape, competency, creative (no box!), change, courage to speak truth to power, communicate, compassion, cooperation, character.

Levin stressed the importance of finding a mentor. "Partnering is so important, and a mentor's impact becomes clear. Do people want to be led, want to be a part of something larger?"

Wexner noted that "When I was young, I didn't know what I didn't know. I see myself as a coach, run a young organization. But you have to know something about the subject. That's the difference between passion and asthma."

Eshel noted that today's next generation is questing for leadership, a fact which he proved by citing the number of kids worldwide who don't generally read, but are devouring Harry Potter books. "Harry Potter is an orphan, western world new generation feels orphaned, wants the possibility of greatness."

"To lead is to see the future," he concluded.