President-Elect | President | Immediate Past President
The Sulam Approach to Leadership Transitions
In thriving congregations, leadership is a steady climb, one rung building upon the next. The word סלם (sulam), meaning ‘ladder’, stems from the biblical story of Jacob’s Ladder. While the angels in that story may have moved effortlessly up and down the ladder, students need guidance and support to make step-by-step progress toward their goals. The Sulam framework is grounded in the belief that strong synagogues are sustained through intentional systems, shared responsibility, and thoughtful leadership transitions. Nowhere is this more evident than in the arc of synagogue leadership from President-Elect, to President, to Immediate Past President.
Each rung of this ladder requires a different leadership posture and a clear understanding of role, responsibility, and restraint. This structure reflects a deeply Jewish understanding of leadership as something transmitted carefully from one generation to the next. As Pirkei Avot teaches, “Moses received Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua.” Leadership, like Torah, is something we prepare for, embrace, and then ultimately teach and pass on to others.
The President Elect: Learning
The role of President-Elect is not about authority, but about learning and listening. In Sulam language, this is the stage of capacity-building. The President-Elect steps into the life of the congregation with curiosity, discovering how the synagogue functions as a system rather than as a collection of individual roles. The President-Elect builds relationships with clergy, staff, and lay partners, observes how decisions are made and
delegated, and begins to understand where accountability lives. Just as Joshua served alongside Moses before assuming leadership, the President-Elect grows into the role by listening deeply and asking thoughtful questions. This period of preparation helps to prevent burnout, reduces anxiety, and grounds leadership in a proactive mindset. It also creates a culture of synagogue vibrancy, where leadership succession is a point of pride.
The Role of President: Leading
When the transition to President occurs, the posture shifts from learning to stewardship. Sulam teaches us that strong presidents lead not by doing everything, but by offering steadiness, direction, and trust in others to lead alongside them. The President keeps the congregation aligned with its mission and values. In partnership with clergy and professional staff, the President helps the board focus on purpose and strategy rather than minutiae, and fosters a culture where accountability is clear and support is real. A president’s success can be measured by how well the congregation’s leadership functions – not by how indispensable they have become.
In some congregations, a presidential successor has not been identified. This is the time for the new president–in partnership with the board, clergy, and professional staff–to mentor potential leaders, to notice who is stepping forward, to identify untapped capacity, and to see who may need encouragement to envision themselves as leaders. Through intentional mentoring and training, leaders can help others build self-confidence and relevant skills. Future leaders can then feel supported and empowered to step up the ladder to take on leadership roles.
The transition out of the presidency is just as sacred as the transition into it. A congregation’s sustainability depends on leaders knowing not only how to step up, but how to step back. In the last six months of their term, the President should make room at the leadership table so that the President-Elect can begin to take on a larger role and prepare for their upcoming presidency.
The Immediate Past President (IPP): Letting Go
The Immediate Past President provides continuity and counsel. They share institutional memory and perspective without undermining current leadership. Successful IPPs advise when asked, mentor emerging leaders, and trust that the synagogue will thrive even when leadership looks different than it once did. In the Torah’s closing chapters, Moses blesses Joshua and then lets go. He does not linger in authority, even though his wisdom remains unmatched. This act of release is itself a model of great leadership. In that context, it is recommended that if Past Presidents remain on the synagogue Board, they should do so as non-voting members.
When these three roles function as an intentional leadership arc, the congregation benefits from stability, clarity, and momentum. Leadership transitions serve the purpose of moving the congregation forward. Leaders feel supported and the synagogue becomes less dependent on heroic individuals and more invested in systems that endure.
Sulam reminds us that leadership is a ladder, one that many people climb over time, and that each rung matters. Learning, leading, and letting go are all holy work. When congregations honor each phase with intention, gratitude, and clarity, they strengthen not only their governance, but the trust and resilience of the entire community.
Linda Sussman, USCJ Director of Leadership Development
To support synagogue leaders in their sacred work, USCJ has developed its Sulam suite of programs—a dynamic leadership development curriculum that empowers congregations to build purposeful, energized, and sustainable communities. Sulam is grounded in an empowered partnership, with USCJ working closely alongside congregations to deliver customized, responsive learning. As Director of Leadership Development, Linda leverages USCJ’s Sulam for Synagogue Leaders (SSL) suite of workshops to strengthen, support, and cultivate effective synagogue leadership.
