Like many of us, I used to think that the “answer” for connecting young Jewish adults to Jewish life was empowerment and innovation. I assumed that every fellowship should have the goal of building up changemakers and empowering leaders. But now, I suspect we are over-emphasizing leadership, and in that way failing a key demographic: those who do not wish to lead. 

The life of a Jewish leader is not for everyone. Being a rabbi and entrepreneur is a source of deep fulfillment for me, but it can also be very lonely. There are not always many colleagues to talk to; you’re constantly having to seek out new funding in a competitive landscape; it falls on you to manage people who are often over-worked and over-extended by the demands of nonprofit life. 

The recent years have only exacerbated these factors, with everything from COVID to the Gaza War to political polarization. I’ve seen countless rabbinic colleagues and innovators leave the Jewish communal profession; perhaps they were initially drawn to the promise of a spiritually-fulfilling career, but were ultimately overwhelmed by burnout and lack of appreciation, especially given the strong Jewish tradition of critiquing leadership. Not only that, but I continue to read reports of rabbinic schools struggling to recruit. Despite this, most of us still prioritize the empowerment of leaders in our fellowships. But what about those who do not wish to lead as spiritual leaders, activists, or changemakers of any sort?  

So often, I meet smart, kind, talented young Jews who want to be deeply engaged and connected to Jewish life, but in no way want to be visionaries. These are people who have no interest in being “empowered” in Jewish........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)