Let me begin by clearing up the title of this talk, "Sheep and Shepherds: Ruminations on Leadership in Jewish Thought and Practice." Sheep and shepherds, צאן ורועה, are the Biblical metaphors for followers and leaders. I prefer that particular symbol because of the relationship between sheep and lambs... And both, after all, are classified as ruminants, hence the beginning of the subtitle... Puns aside, I am concerned that in our own מחנה, especially in the ranks of the RCA as well as YU, the spurning of leadership roles has become a generational phenomenon. When I got סמיכה, leadership was something we were naturally expected to exercise; it was a self-understood element in the responsibilities that רבנות imposed upon us. Whether and to what extent my generation, and the one before mine, executed this duty, is beside the point; the fact is that we knew we were expected to be leaders and that leadership was part and parcel of the functioning Rabbinate. That does not seem to be the fact any longer. For years now, young men have been choosing education over the Rabbinate, and that is not only because of their love of Torah or the scathing criticism of the American Orthodox Rabbinate in some circles (and by people who, ironically, now regularly bemoan the decline of the Rabbinate) , but also because they fear the responsibilities of leadership—communal or halakhic—and prefer a profession which keeps them linked to Torah but limits their "leadership" to 20-30 children! The result is fewer men in the Rabbinate and, of those who do enter, hardly any assumption that a Rav must be a leader, a doer, a mover and shaker and challenger of the status quo. Such leadership is evident in some other Orthodox circles—witness the aggressive outreach programs and the en- trepreneurial enthusiasm of groups such as Lubavitch and some of the "Yeshiva" circles. I am concerned because the problem is far more than theoretical. It touches on the very destiny of our community—the community de…

This address is dedicated to the blessed memory of Nechama Lebovits ע״ה, who was a master of Biblical exegesis in the tradition of Torah scholarship. She was an extraordinary teacher whose life work influenced several generations of exceedingly devoted and admiring students, including rabbinical students at the Gruss Institute in Jerusalem I often ask myself: What does it take to exercise leadership in the Orthodox community in the fading years of this terrible and tormented as well as fantastic and incredible century? The question is important to us because we Orthodox Jews have a tendency to fight new battles with old weapons and to confront novel predicaments with antiquated strategies... I will mention four items or ingredients of leadership, other than the obvious need to be totally committed to Tbrah and Halakha with all one's heart and soul. The first item relates to the heart of this conference, and my thesis is: leader- ship of any community requires a number of people, not just one leader, no matter how brilliant or charismatic. No Lone Rangers need apply for the positions of leadership in any organized community. I admire the contemporary equiva- lent of the heroic cowboy who defeats the Bad Men single-handedly and goes riding off into the sunset. But I have no confidence that such leadership can endure. TYue communal leadership requires a team, a community of leaders, in which one or two or three may be preeminent, but all must pull together. I heard the following in the name of my teacher, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, "the Rav," of blessed memory: The Tbrah relates (Nu. 13) that God commanded Moses to send twelve men, each the prince of his tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan which He had promised to give to the Children of Israel. TWo of them, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a positive report, affirming the promise of God to Israel and asserting that the campaign would succeed. Tten of the princes, however, were thoroughly discouraging and, in defi…

I am exceedingly grateful to all who came to honor me this evening – you make it difficult for me to avoid the sin of pride. I confess that I wondered if this gathering was in the nature of a premature tzetkhem le‑shalom or a belated barukh she‑patrani; the previous speakers have somewhat reassured me and thus given me the courage to address you this evening. I am flattered and humbled by your decision to mark the 25th year of my presidency by naming the Kollel le’Horaah (Yadin Yadin) for me. My father, ע״ה, would have been pleased, because he always wanted me to receive this additional level of ordination. Unfortunately, no such program existed when I was a student at Yeshiva. Now, if I don’t have Yadin Yadin, at least I have a Kollel by that name! I am grateful beyond words. My father would have been proud – of you, as much as of me. Many friends have expressed concern at the announcement that I intend to retire next year, and have pleaded with me to reconsider.1 am not one to disregard the advice of friends, so let me say this: 1 do not intend to step down from the presidency of Yeshiva. Rather, 1 intend to step up to the chancellorship... I have no intention of abandoning Yeshiva. 1 never will! I hope to be available to help and guide for as long as such guidance is wanted and as long as the Almighty grants me the years and the strength.יMy remarks will concern the past, the present, and the future. Let me begin with the past.I conclude this year not only 25 years as president of YU-RIETS, but also 50 years of avodat ba-kodesh, of sacred service to the Jewish community, especially the Torah community. The first quarter cen-tury I spent in the rabbinate, the second in the academic leadership of Yeshiva.Because I believe that to live is to learn, and that when you stop learn-ing you have effectively stopped living, I wish to summarize for myself certain lessons that 1 learned front my combined experiences. Perhaps they may prove of relevance to others, even if t…