Jewish Ethics and Leadership: Four Perspectives

Abstract

These reflections on the ethics of Jewish communal leadership unite a scholarly examination with three personal narratives from the field. Anchoring the discussion is an argument for leadership grounded in four core virtues: anavah (humility), kavod (respect), yosher (integrity), and spiritual orientation. Three Jewish communal leaders highlight ethical quandaries and imperatives they confront in their work. One calls for the cultivation of moral courage. The others explore the tension between personal identity and public representation and the ethical imperative for the Jewish community to confront gender bias and racism.