This week I visited the Mandel Leadership Institute’s website. As usual, the homepage featured three articles about recent events: the Bimat Mandel session on IDF ceremonies; a pilot program for the heads of youth movements in Israel,and an article welcoming the new fellows of the Mandel Scholars in Education program.I tried to read through the eyes of an outsider unfamiliar with the Mandel Institute, and the following thoughts occurred to me:
1. Wow!
2. What is this Institute? I've heard of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, but the Army? Doctoral students? Youth movements? All in one place? What do all these things have in common?
By the way, this was no coincidence. Even if he'd entered the website a month ago, the casual visitor would have found a different, equally impressive selection: educational leadership development programs in the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) community, discussions of Jewish peoplehood, and more.
So what do they all share?
I believe they share one thing: leadership for the sake of heaven
And what is leadership for the sake of heaven? I may have coined the phrase, but not the idea.
The idea is adapted from the Talmudic concept, “mahloket le’shem shamayim” – a dispute for the sake of heaven, the goal of which is not to defeat the other, but to strive together with him for the truth.
What then is leadership for the sake of heaven? It is leadership that aims not to exert power over the other, but to work together with him for the greater good.
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot (6:17) states that the antithesis of “a dispute for the sake of heaven” is the dispute described in next week’s Torah portion, that of Korach and his followers. Based on this interpretation, the only thing that mattered to Korach was the question of who has more power i.e., Why is Moshe in charge and not me?
At the Mandel Institute, the questions that occupy us are not “how to accumulate power” or “how to win the rat race to this or that senior position,” bur rather “to what good am I striving and how can this vision be transformed into reality.”
This approach, of leadership for the sake of heaven, is the trait shared by all the Mandel Institute’s programs, and it stems from its founders’ worldview.
Some measure Mr. Mandel’s contribution to education in Israel in dollars. By that measure, he is undoubtedly one of the largest donors. The total sum amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
But, in my opinion, and I believe also in his opinion, Mr. Mandel’s true contribution to Israel cannot be not measured in dollars, or even in the number of programs or buildings bearing his name, and those of his brothers.
The sole, relevant measure for him is: “How much good are we doing in the world? And can we do more?”
The programs and institutions, including the Mandel Leadership Institute, are a means, not an end. The end of our endeavor is a State of Israel that is more just and truer to its Jewish and humanist values – a State of Israel where all its citizens live in dignity.
Dear graduates,
A wise man once said, “It’s all about who.”
In the spirit of leadership for the sake of heaven, I would add: “It’s all about who, but it’s not all about you.”
You are talented people, each and every one of you. And I say this on the basis of personal acquaintance. But your, and our, success will not be measured by how far you go as individuals. It will be measured by how much good you do along the way.
I know that you will succeed, so there is no need to wish you success. I wish for you only that the journey be surprising and inspiring.
Taken from Dr. Eli Gottlieb’s Speech at the Mandel Leadership Institute Graduation Ceremony on June 10, 2014 at the Bible Lands Museum
