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Hadara Ishak

Jewish Leadership in Crisis: How Rabbis Must Guide Us forward after the October 7th Terrorist Attack and Yom Kippur

As Jews, we have faced unimaginable crises throughout history. From the expulsions from Spain and Portugal and the devastation of the Holocaust to the precariousness of the modern State of Israel, each chapter has required us to rise and lead our people back.

While every era differs, one institution has remained constant: the role of the rabbi. Today, more than ever, as antisemitism surges across the globe and as we are still profoundly affected by the devastating terrorist attacks in Israel one year ago on October 7, the time has come to ask: How should our rabbis lead us into the future?

It’s impossible to overlook the current situation in Israel—nonstop sirens, the loss of life, and ongoing conflict. These challenging times only underscore the importance of securing a vibrant future for our people. This Yom Kippur, as we stood in solemn reflection of the year behind us and the uncertain year ahead, it became clear that we are again in a profound crisis. The haunting memories of the October 7 terrorist attacks remind us of the vulnerability we still face: the fragility of our safety and the resolve we must summon to protect the future of the Jewish people. This new year must be a turning point.

Historically, rabbis have been the moral backbone of the Jewish people. During the Spanish Inquisition, rabbis helped preserve Judaism through underground networks, ensuring that our faith could continue in secret. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, they played a critical role in helping survivors rebuild shattered lives. When the State of Israel was founded, rabbis helped shape its moral and ethical foundation, rooted in Jewish law.

Today, their leadership looks different. Our rabbis are not called to save us from inquisitors or physical displacement but rather to navigate our community’s complex moral, cultural, and existential crises. We are witnessing synagogue membership decline and a rise in global antisemitism. This crisis is not just one of safety but of identity—or a lack thereof—an existential threat to the future of the Jewish people.

In the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks, rabbis were on the front lines, comforting families, mourning with communities, and offering prayers for peace. But the role of rabbis goes beyond comforting in times of sorrow; it must extend to guiding us toward action and a stronger future.

One year after October 7, rabbis are tasked with balancing a message of resilience with the hard questions about what it means to be Jewish in this era. What will we build in response to these crises? How can we inspire the next generation to remain closely connected to Israel and their Jewish identities?

The new year ahead offers us an opportunity for renewal. Rabbis need to help lead the charge in rebuilding and strengthening the bonds between the global Jewish community and Israel. The lesson from past crises is clear: leadership requires vision, courage, and action. We are not simply maintaining what exists; we are charged with shaping the future of Judaism, ensuring that our communities come back stronger and thrive in the face of adversity.

Our rabbis are community organizers, educators, and moral leaders and must carry out these roles with great urgency. It’s time to take bold steps forward. This is not just about reacting to the challenges of rising antisemitism or diminished affiliation with synagogues and Jewish causes. It is about proactively shaping a future where our schools, synagogues, and cultural institutions continue to flourish. Jewish values are central to our daily lives, and our connection to Israel is unshakable.

In doing so, we look to our rabbis to foster conversations that inspire action, calling on their congregants to live the values of tzedakah (justice) and tikkun olam (repairing the world). In a recent letter from Rabbi Daniel Dorsch in Atlanta, he underscored the need for rabbis to lead by example: “We cannot expect our congregants to take bold steps if we are not taking them ourselves.”

Our rabbis need to walk this bridge with us, guiding us forward with courage and conviction. It is not just about remembrance but about forging a path forward. The Jewish Future is not just a distant goal—and it is NOT guaranteed—it is something we build daily through education, activism, and moral clarity.

This is a generational moment. The time for action is now.

About the Author
Before becoming President of the Jewish Future Promise, Hadara was an entrepreneur, building Jan Micolle into a successful women’s clothing manufacturing company. After working at Jan Micolle, she became vice president of distribution and a co-producer at Imagination Productions, an independent documentary film company focused on the Jewish world.
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