Posted July 14 2008 by Jewneric
The Jewish Leadership Series: Jeremy Epstein
Jewneric recently had the opportunity to speak with Jeremy Epstein, Word of Mouth & Social Media Consultant and a prominent Jewish leader. We asked him a series of questions to help us better understand and appreciate their significant contributions to our community.
With a brother who is younger by 19 months, Jeremy’s mom was convinced that “one of them wouldn’t make it to adulthood.” Well, he did, and being the eldest of 5 children, all graduates of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD, is one of his life’s most formative experiences. Jeremy also spent 1 year in Germany studying the Holocaust (at the German taxpayer expense!) and then 2 years in Japan. Since, he’s worked for companies big (Microsoft) and small (2-time entrepreneur) and loves to blog on marketing (www.jer979.com) and whatever strikes his fancy (http://jer979.blogspot.com).
——
1. What is the single most significant project you are involved with in the Jewish Community?
Now that I have 3 kids, I look at “significant projects” in a different light and take small victories wherever I can find them. For the past 2 years, I have served on the Board of my synagogue, Kemp Mill Synagogue and as Chairman of the Technology Committee. I have a fantastic team of 15 who each serve a rotating week of “call” where they are on point to address any issues that come up in our support of the office staff. We’ve also got a password-protected team blog for knowledge sharing (too often this type of knowledge sits in the head of 1 or 2 people), all can remotely access the office PC’s for updating/maintenance.
I am very proud of having brought some operationally efficiency, knowledge management, greater member participation (previously all of the work was done by 1 guy), and we’ve been able to (slowly, but surely) raise the shul’s effectiveness (in teaming with our great staff, of course)
2. What organizations or people do you look to for inspiration?
Jewishly or otherwise? Well, if Jewishly, I love reading Esther Kustanowitz’s blog (jdatersanonymous.com) as she cleverly addresses the challenges that Jewish singles face today. I also love MEMRI (www.memri.org) for the light they bring to what is being said in Arabic language press. As a former AIPAC intern and board member, I have the utmost respect for that organization.
And on a secular front, well, you could visit my blog at www.jer979.com and see my always updated “blogroll” to see where I get my inspiration (most of which is online)
Above all, are my friends. I’m a big networker and my start page is the Status Updates Page of Facebook. That’s how I learn about what great things people are doing and what’s important (once 6 people had made mentions about “Client 9 and Spitzer,” I knew something was going on and, only then, did I go to a conventional news outlet)
Oh whoops, the answer should have been “my wife!” J
3. If one Jewish leader could come back and take a role in strengthening the Jewish community today, who would it be?
Man, you don’t ask easy questions, do you? It’d have to be somebody who could (re)awaken a sense of pride for being Jewish and someone who is a fighter, not a wimp.
I want to say someone like Menachem Begin, but he’d probably be a bit too controversial. Let’s go with Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. He was a bit crazy, so he’d have the ability to deal with all of the mishigas that is the Jewish community.
4. Who are the current Jewish leaders that you think are affecting the most positive change?
What’s the guy’s name from Birthright? Oh yeah, Steinhart. EVERYONE to whom I’ve spoken about his program raves about it. That’s a huge mitzvah that he started. I think Joe Lieberman, for standing on principle would be another. Ehud Olmert…NOT.
5. What is the most exciting Jewish project you have encountered in the past two years?
Does the birth of my 3rd child count?
6. What is your favorite part of your job as a lay leader?
Can I say ‘shirking additional responsibility” under the guise of being over-committed?
7. What do you feel are your biggest challenges balancing work and the community?
Short-term vs. Long-term. Material vs. spiritual.
I know that, when all is said and done, my legacy to my family, friends, and community is because of what I do over the long-term in the spiritual/communal world, but I have a really difficult focusing on that when staring down day school tuition bills as they come towards me like an oncoming, runaway train.
8. What do you think is the best way to foster a sense of responsibility amongst potential new leaders?
There’s a great scene in the moive Amistad, where the leader of the former slaves is talking with his attorney. The lawyer says, “I’ve prepared all of the documents and witnesses, what are you going to bring?”
The former slave says, “I am going to bring the strength of my ancestors because at this moment, I represent their reason for being.”
When we all take a moment and reflect on what has been done to enable us to be where we are now and how the community has played a key role in that, how can we shirk our responsibility?
As my friend Jen once said, “I recognize now that I have to live vertically, with a responsibility to the generations that came before and those that come after.”
9. What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders?
We have a unique value proposition. Don’t be afraid of it.
Add This Blog to Your Technorati Favorites
Jewish Blog, Jewish, Jewish Leadership, Jewish News, Jewish Values, Jewish Events
