Dynamic synagogues are places in which lay and professional leaders interact and work together as a chevra. The Lay Leadership Institute is designed to enhance the effectiveness of congregational lay leaders in their efforts to help lead and transform their synagogues. Board presidents, officers, and members are often drawn to leadership roles by their desires to be useful to synagogues about which they care deeply as places of community, meaning, and spirituality. The extent to which they are indeed useful in their roles is directly related to their abilities to work effectively in the synagogue environment, which differs in important ways from other settings in which they may have held significant roles.

The Difficult Work of Lay Leadership

Lay leaders must collaborate effectively with rabbis and other clergy with whom there are often unclear lines of authority and influence. They must represent synagogue members and the diverse, often conflicting interests that they hold. They must develop appropriate working relationships with staff over whom they have little formal influence. They must create a leadership group that works responsibly with difficult strategic, financial, and leadership issues. And they must do all this in the context of organizations that draw deeply on Jewish values and all that they represent in the modern world.

Our Aim

These tasks require lay leaders to possess various skills and behaviors, and a set of insights into the lay leader role. The aim of this Institute is to enable lay leaders to learn and apply such insights and skills. The program is designed for current and future lay leader—board officers and members, key committee leaders and members—from synagogues ranging in size, location, and practices.

PROCESS -How it works

• Preparation
• Two Day Residential Session
• Faculty and Peer Coaches

CONTENT - What we teach

• Leadership development
• Board Development
• Synagogue Development