One of the central ideas of this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, is leadership. As Moses realizes that his own period of leadership is coming to an end, he asks God to appoint a new leader for the community. Moses understands that leadership isn’t just about his own qualities or his own ego. He knows that true leadership is about ensuring that his people will continue to be guided and cared for long after he stops leading.
I am currently thinking a lot about leadership because this week I had the privilege of attending the American Conference of Cantors annual gathering. There, I spent several days learning, praying, and singing with other cantors and synagogue musicians, while also wrestling with the challenges, gifts, and opportunities of Jewish leadership today.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Amplifying Our Roles,” and through conversations with friends and colleagues, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to amplify the role of the cantor. One way is certainly by standing strong in our own leadership, but an even greater way, perhaps, is by calling others into leadership. This is true for clergy, but also for our lay leaders and greater community. Whether through serving on a committee, singing in a choir, serving on the TRSTY board, or engaging in other types of leadership at TRS, when we build one another up, we are truly amplified in our leadership and in our roles.
Inspired both by this Torah portion and by the wonderful leaders, mentors, and teachers I encountered this week, I find myself wanting not only to continue growing as a leader, but also to invest in the future leaders I have the privilege to encourage. I can’t wait to bring home new music, new ideas, and especially new perspectives on how to amplify each person in their role so they can reach their full potential.
May we all continue to seek wisdom, to learn from one another, and to lead our communities with courage, compassion, and hope.
Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Sydney Michaeli
