CO-STAR Blog - Sharing insights about synagogue life

With the best of intentions, many synagogue leaders try to please every congregant.

After all, we want to model the Jewish values of kindness, respect and caring in the synagogue. And, we know that retaining synagogue members and finding good volunteers are serious challenges, so they strive to respond positively to every request and criticism.

But trying to be loved by everyone was never realistic, and we’re reminded of that when we read the Biblical Book of Esther, one of the central ways we celebrate the upcoming holiday of Purim.

This story, which presents the first plan for genocide against Diaspora Jews, is so gripping that it is easy to miss one of those leadership gems found in the last sentence of this book.

One of the heroes of the story, Mordechai, eventually rises to second-in-command over the Persian Empire.  Mordechai is no closet Jew but openly wears his identity proudly. In fact, his refusal to bow before Haman, the story’s villain, is what sets a nearly successful plan of genocide into motion.

Fortunately, in this case, the plot is foiled and this story concludes happily for the Jewish people. Haman, who had been second-in-command, is punished by death and Mordechai replaces him.  At the end of the story, the narrator offers a judgment about Mordechai’s leadership (chapter 10, verse 3)–and Mordechai was beloved by most of his fellow Jews.

Note that the verse does not say that Mordechai was universally loved–rather, he was beloved by a majority, which means that even he had his detractors. We’re not told why some of the people had issues with Mordechai. But it didn’t seem to matter to readers then and it shouldn’t concern us either. That’s because one of the conditions for leadership is the willingness to be the object of criticism.

Leadership means being out front on issues of critical impact.  The art of leadership is to identify and articulate those issues, while building a coalition of individuals who agree with you. That way, you’re not so far ahead that you wind up standing alone, but you are far enough out there to challenge the community to move closer to the new ideal or idea which you are proposing.

Mordechai’s measure of acceptance by his people reflects this approach toward leadership and is ultimately better for community. Those who try and please everyone will of necessity avoid making difficult choices that real leadership requires.

So while maintaining our highest Jewish sensibilities as we lead, let’s take our cue from Mordechai and realize that by maintaining a majority of support, we will more likely fulfill our own leadership challenges.

B’Shalom,
Hayim Herring

 Image Credit: Lastman - Triumph of Mordechai  from The Jewish Magazine, “The Purim Story and Dutch Artists”