From the Desk of Jennifer Lorch Selco | Sr. Director of Jewish Living + Engagement
This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim (Hebrew for judges), reminds us of the importance of learning. In Shoftim we read about judges, leaders, and the systems that help a society function with fairness and integrity. There are also rules around a king, should Israel wish to have a ruler like the other nations around it.
When he is seated on his royal throne, he shall have a copy of this Teaching written for him on a scroll by the Levitical priests. Let it remain with him and let him read in it all his life, so that he may learn to revere the Eternal his God, to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching as well as these laws. – Deuteronomy 17:18-19
In his commentary, Lessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, teaches “to be a Jewish leader means spending time to study both Torah and hokma (Jewish wisdom): hokma to understand the world as it is, Torah to understand the world as it ought to be. Leaders should never stop learning. That is how they grow and teach others to grow with them (page 267).”
Shoftim reminds us that leaders should not stop learning, not only because learning helps them to lead the community, but also because others will learn from them. We are a learning people, using ancient wisdom to help us make sense of our world today and empowering us to strive to make our community and world a better place.
As we bring in Shabbat, may we be inspired by this idea that learning truly is a lifelong journey. The questions we ask, the conversations we have, and the new perspectives we encounter, each provide an opportunity to grow. When we make learning a part of who we are, we strengthen not only ourselves, but the community we are building together.
One of the lessons of Shoftim is that leadership begins with a commitment to keep learning. The Torah’s vision of leadership asks us not only to guide others, but to remain curious, grounded in wisdom, and open to growth ourselves. That idea is deeply connected to the work of the J, where we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to cultivate leadership at every level of our community. We believe leadership grows when people are invited to learn, take initiative, and share what they have to offer—and when we create spaces for our staff, members, and guests both young and old to do that. This week, we saw our commitment to learning and leadership come to life in many different ways!
We began the week on Sunday welcoming back UA women’s basketball legends Sam Thomas and Dominique McBryde to the J for their 5th annual Hoop Group youth basketball clinic. As leaders on the court, they brought their skills and experience to a group of over 80 young athletes, many of whom have returned year after year! You can read more about the clinic here from our friends at the Arizona Daily Star and check out photos here on Facebook.
Beginning Wednesday, we had the honor of hosting LA-based Argentinian Jewish artist, Alex Woz, to campus for a short but impactful artist residency that included a pop-up exhibition, artist talk, and collage workshop, all centered around the theme of Jewish identity and combatting antisemitism using the power of art to share positive stories. Alex also delivered a presentation and workshop for our leadership team, offering a powerful moment to learn together, express our creativity, and think about the role our work and we as leaders play in shaping the narrative of our local and global Jewish communities. Just this morning, Zev Greenberg joined his mom Jennifer, our Jewish Culture + Curriculum Coordinator for Early Childhood Education, at ECE Shabbat to welcome the Hebrew month of Elul by sounding the shofar (ram’s horn). It is customary to blow the shofar every weekday morning from the second day of Elul to the the last day of the month before the holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins; the idea being that the sounds of the blast stir our souls awake and bring us closer to God as we approach the new year. As a former “J kid,” JCC Maccabi athlete, and Camp J staff, we are proud of Zev for showing leadership and sharing his Jewish spirit with the next generation! Looking for a way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah? Join us for Sweet Beginnings with PJ Library! As we move into Shabbat, each of these experiences reminds us that when we cultivate curiosity and create room for others to grow, we strengthen not only individual leaders, but the vibrant, connected community we are building together.
Reminders, Resources + Learning
Each week we share resources for more learning:
This week’s resources:
- Shoftim: The Imperfection of Justice by Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal (T’ruah)
- Escaping Dostoevsky’s Polar Bear by Rabbi Aharon Loschak (Chabad)
- Never Return to Egypt by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz (My Jewish Learning)
Last week’s resources:
- The Politics of Freedom by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
- Seeds of Peace by Rachel Farbiarz (My Jewish Learning)
- Be Yourself by Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson (My Jewish Learning)
Is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email Jenn Selco with requests.