Thriving congregations need leaders with a shared sense of direction. A synagogue strategic plan should answer the question, “How will we help build a meaningful Jewish community in the coming 3 to 5 years? What issues must be resolved? What
shifts need to occur?”

In Stepping Forward Together (Chapter 7) we discuss The Campaign of Change. We have adapted ideas from John Kotter, a professor at Harvard Business School and world-renowned change expert. He introduced an eight-step change process in his 1995 book, Leading Change. We will focus on some of his key steps:

1.Urgency

The campaign of change requires leaders to have a sense of urgency for action. When they look at their situation and their aspirations they usually find a gap. They have curiosity about the gap. They are motivated to close the gap.

2. Guiding Coalition

Stepping Forward Together describes the challenges of leading change in synagogues (Chapters: 3, 4, 5 and 6). In our visioning and planning model the Planning Committee, which we call the Steering Committee, shapes and guides the conversations about planning. We discuss the composition and role of the committee (Chapter: 8). This group needs to learn to function as a team with shared norms and commitments. We take time to orient and engage the members so they know what is expected and can go the distance to complete the process. They will use these team building skills when they recruit and launch task forces.

3. Shared Vision Going Forward

We will teach leaders how to cast a vision and paint a portrait of desired outcomes for key areas of synagogue life. A shared vision, strategies and actions will guide decisions about such issues as staffing, buildings, budgets, and community outreach.

Thriving congregations need teams that have a shared leadership vision, clear board expectations and well-defined roles and responsibilities for the officers, the board and committees. They need to understand lay/staff boundaries.

In my book, B’yachad; Synagogue Board Development, and in United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s’s Sulam Leadership Curriculum we talk about how leaders can become more effective and strategic if they address key board plans. We focus on three.

• The Leadership Plan
• The Delegation Plan
• The Accountability Plan

We have a model Board Development Workshop plan attached.

This process will sharpen your rabbinic vision and voice and help you engage the congregation, when they are ready, in important conversations. We offer a 7-month coaching plan to help rabbis develop their own vision and strategies for change

• Great for rabbis transitioning to new pulpits.
• Great for rabbis who hope to engage in planning in the near future.

This is not an alternative to a congregational planning process. My book Stepping Forward Together is based on a lay/staff partnership in visioning and planning which we argue is essential for real change.

There are times, however, where the congregation is not ready to do a complete planning process. The senior rabbi, nevertheless, needs to have some planning strategies in their “strategic work in process file folder,” so they are able to share informally with leaders and guide leadership discussions.

Program Goals

• Develop your own situation analysis.
• Develop your personal vision, strategies and goals.
• Review how to engage partners to join you to explore what you are learning.
• Design process to help lay and staff Step Forward Together.

Program Hours
Pre-work: 2 hours
Seven 1-hour sessions with 1 hour of preparation, so 2 hours per session: 14 hours
Total Contract: 16 hours

I am available to be a scholar in residence, proferring a range of experiences. These can be mixed and matched.

Typical Schedule
Arrive in afternoon; go to hotel

Friday Dinner
I require that I be hosted by a group of leaders for Friday night. After dinner I find it helpful to engage in causal questions and answers on any issues they have I am very happy to engage this way.

Saturday
Attend services; offer a d’var in service or at Kiddush

A Hopeful, Forward-Looking Vision – Swept Away: My Curious Journey from family broom business to synagogue consulting

Sunday
10am-2pm- 2- to 4-hour session
Board Development
Strategic Thinking
Leave in afternoon

Articles in the Press

My Blog

Why B’yachad Leadership?
B’yachad leadership is based on the idea that we can work more effectively and efficiently by learning from each other. As we are taught in Pirkei Avot, “Who is wise? One who learns from others.”

In this blog, we will explore leadership and management books and articles and show how they might help synagogue leaders. We will review weekly parshiot and other texts to explore leadership lessons, as well as reflect on current and historical case studies that pertain to leading sacred communities.

Some of My Blog Posts

Don’t Forget to Ask Why

A Weight Shall be Lifted

Building a House You Can Live In

Seeing Like Barnes

“For several decades, Bob Leventhal has helped synagogues across North America become more vibrant, forward-looking institutions. In Stepping Forward Together we have the gift of accumulated wisdom from all his work in the field.”
– Sid Schwarz, Senior Fellow at Hazon; author of Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future

“We are living in a moment of rapid, profound change, and synagogues, as all sacred communities, are struggling to respond with meaning. In such an environment, strategic thinking, planning, and implementation are needed more than ever. This book is just the resource needed to help synagogue leaders step forward into the future, and there is no one better to be our guide than Robert Leventhal.”
– Rabbi Steven Wernick, The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Senior Rabbi, Beth Tzedec Congregation

“Leventhal delivers a lot more than the book’s title promises. This book is good for the Jews, for sure, but Leventhal’s methods could help any system where broad-based engagement and commitment are the keys to success.”
– David Kiel, Academic Leadership Consultant, David Kiel Associates, LLC

“This book is a gift. Synagogues are naturally reactive-focused on present worries or, worse, on past glories. To thrive, to be faithful, they need to be reflective – focused on the purpose and possibilities of the future. In this book Bob provides the tools, steps, and expansive experience that will help. A gift indeed.”
– Gil Rendle, Alban Institute Senior Consultant (retired) and author of Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World

Robert F Leventhal Consulting

2145 Oyster Reef Lane
Mt. Pleasant SC 29466
937-609-8122
robertleventhal51@gmail.com