The Sulam: Bridging Idealism and Realism
President’s Installation Speech, Feb 5, 2011
In March of 2010 I attended a USCJ leadership seminar called Sulam. Together with other synagogue presidents and incoming presidents, I learned about all aspects of synagogue issues and problems, both from the seminar leaders and from the experiences of the other 22 participants.
In fact, we discovered that there were teaching opportunities for us in many of our Jewish texts.
For example, from the SHIRIM in the B’Chol Echad:
On p. 85, HINEI MA TOV, for the idealistic phase in the beginning of one’s presidency:
Behold how good and how pleasant it is,
For brothers to dwell together in unity.
Or on p. 89, LO IRA, as one’s term as synagogue president progresses:
I will not fear the multitudes
That have set themselves against me
Arise, O Lord! Save me!
And on p. 104, BASHANA HABA-A, at the end of one’s presidency, perhaps words of wisdom for Ron:
Next year, when peace comes, we shall return to the
Simple pleasure of life so long denied us. You will see,
You will see, oh how good it will be—next year!
The Hebrew word, Sulam, means ladder. In Parsha Vayetze, we are told that Jacob has a dream about angels ascending a ladder that reaches to the heavens: “and Jacob dreamed, and behold there was a Sulam, a ladder, which was firmly affixed to the earth and its top reached heavenward.” Our Sulam experience was designed to help us ascend to the heights of our own leadership potential, encouraging us to dream about our synagogue’s future and giving us the tools to help us realize that dream.
Rashi comments that the while the ladder in Jacob’s dream reached the heavens, it was planted solidly on the ground, thus reflecting the balance between vision and idealism with practical realism. Thus, our Jewish tradition teaches us through the Sulam imagery that we should strive to dream, to foster change, yet respect the “facts on the ground.”
“Building Community” is the vision or theme I have for my 2-year presidency. Working together with you, I hope to foster ideas and programs to strengthen and deepen relationships within our membership. On a more practical level, I’ll be having a board retreat next week to develop 2-year achievable goals in our board portfolios that are relevant to this theme.
The Sulam, with its many individual steps, also can be viewed as a metaphor for gradual change and transformation. Within the Sulam, the rungs of my presidency are built upon accomplishments of the past, and they provide links for the future endeavors. In terms of building on some of the initiatives we started in Ron’s term as president, I would like to continue to increase transparency of board and synagogue operations and improve communications at Beth David, both electronic and written.
When I began thinking about starting new projects during my term, many of the tasks seemed immense. But I was reminded by LO ALECHA in B’chol Echad, from Pirkei Avot: “It is not for you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” During my presidency, I would like to begin the task of reviewing our Bylaws and Policies and propose changes to the parts that no longer are relevant.
On Shabbat at Sulam, we studied Torah Parshiot in the Book of Exodus for lessons relevant to leadership. The last third of the Book of Exodus, beginning with today’s Parsha, T’rumah, concerns itself largely with the construction of the Mishkan. T’rumah includes a wish list of the basic materials that are needed, all to be acquired by public donation—thus the title, T’rumah, meaning gifts or offerings. Fast forward three Parshiot to the future and we see an amazing outcome. The Israelites donated so many gifts that Moses actually had to tell them to stop—every Rabbi’s or President’s dream for their synagogue!
Coming back to reality, other Parshiot in Exodus talk about the leadership qualities of some of the people involved in building the Mishkan, and our Shabbat study at Sulam focused on this aspect. According to Midrash, Moses received the gifts from the Israelites and the building instructions from God for the Mishkan and proceeded to try to assemble it himself. But none of the joints fit together properly, the branches of the Menorah were uneven, and the entire project was a disaster. I can relate to this situation, for example, whenever I try to assemble Ikea furniture myself or when I try to operate the sound and light systems at Beth David!
So God tells Moses that an effective leader delegates and recognizes the talents of others that she lacks. Fortunately, there are many Israelites with unique skills who can help Moses out and can craft everything exquisitely that God has commanded for the Mishkan. In particular, master craftsman Bezalel is singled out by God to supervise the project, who then recruits many others, each with expertise in specific building tasks. In two separate verses in two separate chapters of Exodus, Bezalel (whose name means “in the shadow of God”) is described as endowed with skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft. So what does Rashi have to say about this? Rashi explains the meaning of the traits somewhat differently than their literal translation. Skill (khokhmah) is that which a person learns from others, ability (t’vunah) is one’s own insight and experience, and knowledge (da-at) is inspired ideas. I hope that during my presidency I will be able to combine my own ideas and experience with what I learn from you to develop the best goals and programs for Beth David. And, of course, I would love for many of you to contribute your special skills and talents as well.
Today, I’m wearing several garments made by Jewish craftsman and women who use their skills and talents for the good of the community: this beautiful Torah fund pin, which is sold to support the Jewish Theological Seminary; Beth David’s Torah Readers pin, a replica of our Parochet or ark curtain; and this beautiful Kippah made by Moe, an 85 year old Jewish craftsman. Moe worked for many years for the Swarovski crystal company and invented the process for annealing the crystals to cloth. In his retirement, he designed these beautiful Swarovski Kippahs and donated his profits to charity after selling them on eBay.
Finally, one additional text we studied at Sulam has been right before my eyes every Shabbat without me noticing it. In Sim Shalom there is a Prayer for Our Congregation preceding the Prayer for Our Country.
Like the imagery of the Sulam, the Prayer for Our Congregation also incorporates dreams and idealism along with practical considerations.
The prayer is very inclusive. It asks for blessings not only for our own congregation, but for our extended families, for other congregations, for founders of congregations, even for those who enter congregations to pray. The dream is for health and prosperity for all.
On the practical side, this prayer singles out a special subset to bless—those who give funds for heat and light and those who give wine for Kiddush and Havdalah. Even when this prayer was written, the importance of utilities and food for a synagogue was recognized!
I encourage each of us to take time to think about our biggest dream for Beth David, then to help work toward practical goals that make that dream come.
In concluding, please open your prayer books to p. 415 and join me in saying the Prayer for Our Congregation written by Lewis Ginsberg:
A Prayer for Our Congregation
May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless this entire congregation, together with all holy congregations: them; their sons and daughters, their families, and all that is theirs, along with those who unite to establish synagogues for prayer, and those who enter them to pray, and those who give funds for heat and light, and wine for Kiddush and Havdalah, bread to the wayfarer and charity to the poor, and all who devotedly involve themselves with the needs of this community and the Land of Israel. May the Holy One Praised be God reward them; may God remove sickness from them, heal them, and forgive their sins. May God bless them by prospering all their worthy endeavors, as well as those of the entire people Israel. And let us say: Amen
Joanne Cornbleet, President
Congregation Beth David
Saratoga, CA
Installation President’s Speech, Feb 5, 2011