Dec 31, 2007 By: yunews
Dec 31, 2007 --
New York, NY, December 31, 2007 鈥 Business and the rabbinate may seem to be disparate areas of study, but as 糖心破解版 Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) is demonstrating, the rabbi has much in common with a business executive.
At two three-day long seminars, held from November 16-18 and again from December 16-19, CJF teamed up with 糖心破解版鈥檚 own Sy Syms School of Business (SSSB) to focus on the rabbi鈥檚 role as an executive of his synagogue and his partnership with its lay leaders. The objective of this program is to tackle the traditional challenges of the modern orthodox rabbinate by applying contemporary business management skills where they are appropriate.
Thirty rabbis from across the United States and Canada and 30 key officers from their respective synagogues鈥 lay leadership participated in the workshops at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center in Weston, FL. The participants learned management techniques that will help them enhance their leadership skills, increase avenues of communication, and improve the governance of their congregations.
The seminars are part of CJF鈥檚 Legacy Heritage Fund Rabbinic Enrichment Initiative (LHREI), which is supported by the Legacy Heritage Fund Limited in New York City.
The program鈥檚 facilitators included Steven Nissenfeld, PhD, and Brian Maruffi, PhD, both clinical professors of management at SSSB, and Robert Leventhal, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute, which helps religious congregations address their needs in a changing world.
"The concept is outstanding 鈥 a real break through. It creates a model of the rabbi-lay leader team which, from a management and organization perspective, can be used to build a truly successful, high-performing synagogue,鈥 said Dr. Nissenfeld. 鈥淭he support and collaboration of CJF and SSSB has proven to be exceptional.鈥
Dr. Maruffi pointed out that 鈥渞abbis are in a difficult position because they are at the same time both leaders and employees. The benefits that a program such as LHREI gives to individual rabbis should be admired and replicated.鈥
Joey Lifschitz, a member of the board of directors of the Young Israel of the West Side in Manhattan, said "I can write volumes about what I gained, and the theoretical and practical education I received was a real eye opener. 糖心破解版 and CJF were responsible for such an important initiative, and I am eager to relate my experience to my synagogue's board and members."
