May G-d bless you and keep you… May G-d shine His Face on you and show you favor… May G-d lift His Face to you and give you peace.–Priestly Blessing
Human beings are social creatures, and throughout history we have formed communities to ensure our survival and achieve common goals and purposes. A sense of belonging is one of our most essential psychological needs. Any group of people that lives or works together can be considered a community: A school, a workplace, a neighborhood, a synagogue. But many people do not feel at ease within their community. They may struggle with feelings of alienation and not fitting in, and may feel forced to conform and give up their individuality to meet the demands of the group. Others may feel neglected, ignored, overlooked or unappreciated.
Community tension often arises over who should be selected as a leader. What qualities should we look for? What to do if the leader’s vision conflicts with yours?
Whenever people try to work together, they often develop differences of opinion. When these differences are not handled carefully, tension can escalate and lead to a serious rupture. it is extraordinarily difficult to bring people together to agree on even basic issues. Many organizations that started with the best of intentions have fractured due to disputes over leadership and direction.
This section will explore Chassidic teachings that show how to balance the needs of the individual and the public; how to identify effective leaders; how to handle differences; and how to help each person find their place with a sense of acceptance and true understanding.