TORAH TIMES - SPRING EDITION 2018

A Message from Our
Chief Operating Officer
WELCOME
Passover & Leadership Responsibility
I am always honored as your COO
to be asked to represent Beth Torah
at interesting meetings across the
community. A few weeks back, I was
privileged to attend a private breakfast
of about 8 people and to sit next to
Israel’s Ambassador to the United
Nations, Danny Danon.
Despite the differences in opinions and
political views, there was a spirit of
respect and a willingness to understand
the differences. I was personally
interested in his views of the Arab-Israel
conflict. When it was my turn, I leaned
over and whispered in his ear, “I’m going
to ask you a tough question that I think
everyone would be interested in. Is that
ok?” Danny looked me in the eye and
just laughed his approval and said, “I’m
ready.”
The question was about “Greater Israel”
and what it was that far right politicians
thought would happen in that scenario.
What did these politicians believe would
happen to the Palestinians? Would they
magically disappear? Would they just
leave? The Ambassador looked at me
and just smiled before he answered.
Why do I tell you this story? Because that
meeting, as well as the Ambassador’s
response, left me thinking about
leadership responsibility, in the face of
conflicts.
He pointed to the lesson of Ariel Sharon,
who got into office and despite his preconceived
notions, quickly realized
that nothing is ever as easy from the
inside as it looks from the outside. The
Ambassador believed that no matter
who became Prime Minister, leaders
from both sides have to talk and to listen
to the other.
The Hebrew word for leadership is
“manhigut”. It derives from the root
found in the word “behavior.” For
Judaism, effective leadership is not
about position; it is about behavior and
action. “One of the hardest tasks of a
leader – from prime ministers to parents
– is conflict resolution. Yet it is also the
most vital. Where there is leadership,
there is long-term cohesiveness within
the group, whatever the short-term
problems. Where there is a lack of
leadership – where leaders lack grace,
generosity of spirit and the ability to
respect positions other than their own
– then there is divisiveness, rancor,
back-biting, resentment, internal
politics and a lack of trust. Leaders are
people who put the interests of the
group above those of any subsection
of the group. They care for, and inspire
others to care for, the common good.”
said Britain’s Former Chief Rabbi Lord
Jonathan Sacks
Passover is around the corner. For Jews
this is a holiday which seeks to inspire
the next generation with hope for a
future peace and a vision of coexistence
and love. This is a holiday that shows
how Moses lead the Jewish people to
freedom through many conflicts. As
Jewish leaders, whether in the UN, in
government, in Jewish institutions or
at home, we have the responsibility to
approach conflict resolution by looking
into the long-term effect of our actions
and decisions, always thinking about
the greater good.
So let’s take the lesson of Ambassador
Danon and Rabbi Sacks and embrace
the spirit of Passover and remind
ourselves that in the face of conflict,
WAYNE KEIL
small or big, we should always be
mindful of our actions and our behavior.
A true leader has to be prepared to
exemplify the ideals and values he / she
represents and serves, while respecting
everyone on the way.
Maybe we can even make this a topic of
conversation at our Seder table!.
Chag Sameach,
Wayne Keil
Chief Operating Officer
Photo: UN Ambassador Danny Danon & Wayne
Keil, COO of Beth Torah
Spring Edition 2018 l Adar-Nissan-Iyar 5778
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