Sulam for Emerging Leaders
Do you want to rebuild the leadership pipeline for your kehilla (congregation)? Sulam for Emerging Leaders is the first step.
Sulam for Emerging Leaders (SEL) is United Synagogue’s new leadership engagement initiative to develop “emerging” leaders in kehillot (congregations) throughout North America. The program provides kehillot with a dynamic curriculum to engage and energize participants in meaningful conversations about how communal involvement in a Conservative kehilla can enhance their lives. We consider “emerging leaders” to be 35-45 year old or empty nesters with discretionary time.
Implemented in local kehillot, Sulam for Emerging Leaders is led by a rabbi and facilitator team, modeling partnership and collaboration. Each brings their unique perspectives, passion and gifts to the table and shares them with the group. The SEL curriculum is designed to be customized and augmented by the facilitators.
The cornerstone of SEL is its ability to connect participants’ personal stories to the larger narrative of the Jewish people. SEL encourages emerging leaders to enhance their personal engagement within the kehilla in the short term, and to eventually seek a seat at the leadership table to ensure future meaningful opportunities for the entire community.
Sulam for Emerging Leaders is Being Launched Across North America in 2012-2013
After a successful pilot year with 14 kehillot (congregations), Sulam for Emerging Leaders is running in 30 kehillot this year all across North America. Sulam for Emerging Leaders (SEL) is United Synagogue’s new leadership engagement initiative to develop “emerging” leaders across the continent. This program targets members of your kehilla (congregation) who have not yet stepped into governance positions. SEL is an engagement opportunity that deepens participants' commitment and connection to their kehillot as it builds their personal Jewish growth, knowledge, and leadership skills. The cornerstone of SEL is its ability to connect participants’ personal stories to the larger narrative of the Jewish people.
The goal of SEL is to show emerging leaders the relevancy of Judaism to their lives in a profound manner and then leverage this insight and inspiration to inform their emerging identities as Jewish leaders. It also has profound effects on the trainers.
The impact of Sulam for Emerging Leaders is best summed up by Rabbi Micah Caplan of Congregation Or Chadash in Scottsdale, AZ, who led one of the pilot groups:
"Sulam (for Emerging Leaders) has changed me as a person. It has brought me closer to working with the president; we learn together and really network. It brought me a different kind of relationship with each individual, with new congregants. I see how holy relationships can become. I didn’t know it would bring a group so close together. I wasn’t expecting it to turn people on. I didn’t know it would have that much magic; it just happened."
The program provides your kehilla with a dynamic six-part curriculum to energize and inspire participants in meaningful conversations about how communal involvement in a Conservative kehilla can enhance their lives. SEL encourages emerging leaders to enhance their personal engagement within the kehilla in the short term, and to eventually seek a seat at the leadership table.
The power of the SEL experience is captured by Susan Freeman, the volunteer trainer at Congregation Beth El in San Diego, CA:
"I thought it would be a great way to have people who have showed interest in being involved step into new roles and new areas of responsibility, innovation and leadership. It turned out to be just that."
SEL is implemented in your kehilla, and is led by your rabbi and a training facilitator from your leadership community, modeling partnership and collaboration. Each brings their unique perspectives, passion and gifts to the table and shares them with the group.
While part of an international initiative, the curriculum is designed to be customized and augmented by the facilitators. United Synagogue provides the curriculum, trains your rabbi and training partner, and connects them to the trainers across the continent bringing this program to their kehillot.
Our Sulam Leadership team is available to help you determine whether you and your kehilla are ready to be part of this exciting continental learning network. Application materials for 2013-2014 will be distributed in Spring 2013. SEL is open to all USCJ kehillot in good standing.
If you have questions about the application process or the program itself, please contact your KRM or Rabbi Charles Savenor, Director of Kehilla Enrichment, at kehilla@uscj.org or at 212-533-0800.